Mangroves, the species-rich and extremely adaptable forests in the salt-rich tidal area of tropical coasts, play a central role in the effects of climate change due to their ability to store greenhouse gases. In addition, mangrove forests are essential for coastal protection and serve the local population as important suppliers of resources.
However, due to the pollution of the oceans and often unsustainable aquaculture use, the existence of mangrove forests is endangered worldwide. Global mangrove stocks have been reduced by half since the middle of the last century.
As a global actor with more than 25 years of experience in research and capacity development on mangroves as well as in providing advice to various stakeholders, the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) has the expertise and a global network of relevant local tropical partners to develop and inititate science-based measures of mangrove protection and sustainable use. With the "1st Mangrove Future Day" in Berlin, ZMT aims to enter into an intensive dialogue with stakeholders from society, politics and industry on possible ways forward to foster the protection of mangroves. In three discussion sessions, participants are invited to address three of the main challenges faced by mangroves and local populations at tropical coasts today - climate change, food security and pollution. The aim is to discuss potential solutions to these issues that also include chances arising for instance from consumer behaviour in Germany and Europe.
The event will take place mainly in German and partly in English.