On June 10 AKFC and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) hosted an insightful event exploring best practices and approaches to support community-based initiatives in mangrove ecosystems in collaboration with the Nature-Based Solutions for Climate and Biodiversity Community of Practice.
Mangroves are vital ecosystems that foster biodiversity, reduce climate risks such as coastal flooding and erosion, and support climate adaptation among adjacent coastal communities.
Yet a recent global assessment by IUCN indicates that more than half of the world’s mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse by 2050 due to climate risks such as sea-level rise and severe storms and other human induced threats such as deforestation, pollution, and development.
Organizations and community partners are working to restore and conserve vital mangrove ecosystems through a Nature-based Solutions (NbS) approach that seeks to deliver climate action while supporting biodiversity, social, and economic co-benefits and promotion of sustainable conservation initiatives in coastal communities.
Speakers:
Andrea Bassi, Senior Associate, International Institute for Sustainable Development (Project: Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) of mangrove ecosystems)
Anete Berzina-Rodrigo, Project Manager, IUCN Oceans Team (Project: Financing for Mangrove Conservation)
Didier Van Bignoot, Global Advisor, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security, Aga Khan Foundation (Project: Community-based Mangrove Initiatives)
Francis Okalo, Program Manager – Coastal and Oceans Resilience, IUCN
(Project: From Global to Local — Regenerative Seascapes for People, Climate and Planet (ReSea) & Save Our Mangroves Now! (SOMN) Initiatives)
Frédérique Thomas, Senegal Director, Société de coopération pour le développement international (SOCODEVI) (Project: Empowering coastal communities and women through mangrove conservation, Natur’ELLE project, Senegal)
Joseph Wong, Founder, Reach Alliance & Vice-President, International, University of Toronto (Project: Mangrove Conservation and Blue Carbon Initiatives in Coastal Kenya)
Kerry Max, Deputy Director, Partnering for Climate, Global Affairs Canada
Marcos Valderrábano, Program Manager, IUCN (Project: Global IUCN Red List of Ecosystems Mangrove Assessment)
