Kategorie: News
Mangrove forests and their conservation
Mangrove forests are full of surprises: these coastal forests, which at first glance appear unremarkable, are breeding grounds for thousands of species of fish and crustaceans. Larvae grow up here in safety before venturing out into the open sea. Without these forests, marine life would collapse – with devastating consequences for fish stocks, coastal communities and marine biodiversity as a whole.
But mangrove forests do much more for us: with their impressive root systems, they stabilise coastlines, break the force of waves and protect communities from storms – an important shield, particularly in the face of increasingly severe storms and rising sea levels. They filter nutrients from the water and store enormous amounts of CO₂ – more per square metre than any other forest on Earth. And they are the hubs of entire coastal ecosystems: closely linked to river estuaries, seagrass beds and coral reefs.
The silent crisis
The bad news: mangrove forests are disappearing at a rapid pace. In the Philippines, for example, 70 per cent have been destroyed – through deforestation for firewood, aquaculture and urban development. The consequences are dramatic: fewer fish, more vulnerable coastlines and the loss of vast CO₂ sinks.
There is hope – and it works!
The good news: in many places, the trend is reversing. Reforestation programmes, legal protection measures and the involvement of local communities are leading to real successes, particularly in South-East Asia. At the MMM7 conference in Ishigaki this July, researchers from 41 countries also demonstrated that mangrove restoration works – but only if done correctly.
https://www.stiftung-meeresschutz.org/projekte/mangrovenwaelder/bericht-von-der-mmm7-konferenz-2026/
The Mama Earth Project: A Role Model
A particularly inspiring example comes from the Mama Earth Foundation in the Philippines. Under the leadership of Ulrich Kronberg (also the founder of Mama Earth), they have been planting mangrove trees on a massive scale in Davao Bay for over ten years – and this is not simply a matter of planting saplings.
The foundation works closely with indigenous fishing families and pays them for their work. This is crucial: local people earn money by protecting their homeland. This works far better than projects that come from outside and then disappear.
https://mama-earth.de/
The School Chair Programme: Ingenious Circular Economy
But it gets even better: during their reforestation campaigns, they collect plastic waste from the sea. They don’t simply recycle this waste – they mould it into sturdy school chairs. And these chairs are given to schoolchildren in communities in need. Along with a chair, the children also receive a full set of school supplies: exercise books, pens, books – all paid for at the equivalent of just 38 euros.
This is brilliant because it solves three problems at once: protecting the sea and mangrove forests, reducing plastic in the oceans, and giving children in poor areas better opportunities for education.
https://mama-earth.de/plastikmuell-schaedling-fuer-unsere-wunderbare-welt/
| Boris Herrmann – Team Malizia As part of the Vendée Globe, German offshore sailor Boris Herrmann called on his fans to send him posts, videos and personal messages during his solo non-stop circumnavigation of the globe. These were intended to provide him with entertainment, motivation and a sense of connection with the people on land during the long weeks he spent alone at sea. Herrmann himself later emphasised that the interaction with his supporters had helped him mentally and made him feel less alone. Gallery 2 here
At the same time, Boris Herrmann and his Team Malizia have been actively committed to climate and marine conservation for years. A key project is the Malizia Mangrove Park, a joint reforestation project launched in November 2020 in Mati Bay in the Philippines. The aim is to plant millions of mangroves, which serve as natural coastal defences, sequester large amounts of CO₂ and create valuable habitats for numerous animal species.Inspired by this initiative, Uli Kronberg’s team, together with their Filipino helpers, produced a special video message for Boris Herrmann. The video combined the message of the mangrove project with best wishes for his journey and showed that people in the Philippines support his mission to protect the oceans and the climate. The result was a moving tribute designed to accompany Boris on his long journey around the world and, at the same time, to demonstrate to him the international solidarity behind his commitment. |
Why this project is so important
The Mama Earth project shows how genuine nature conservation works:
It combines environmental protection with social benefits. Local people benefit directly – through income, better schools and healthier waters. This is sustainable because the communities themselves have a vested interest in protecting the mangrove forests.
It creates economic incentives. People who are paid for reforestation are more willing to do it and do it better than those who are simply ‘expected to protect the environment’.
It makes good use of waste materials. Plastic that would previously have polluted the oceans is turned into something useful – and in the process removes even more rubbish from the waters.
It brings partners together in a smart way. NGOs, universities and local communities work together – each contributing their own strengths.
What this means for the future
Such integrated projects make coastal communities more resilient to climate risks and environmental stress. They also show that nature conservation doesn’t have to compete with economic development – if you do it right.
Our role as divers
We have a special role to play: we see what’s happening underwater every day. Whether we talk about our experiences, support projects like Mama Earth, or simply dive more mindfully – it makes a difference. The mangrove forests we protect are not just ecosystems. They are the foundation for the fascinating dive sites we love.
The good news: it’s not too late. With the right projects and genuine commitment, we can save the mangrove forests – and with them, the underwater worlds that draw us into the water year after year.