Distribution and extent

Although mangroves are widely distributed in over 120 tropical and subtropical nations and territories, they are in fact rare at the global scale, covering less than 1 percent of all tropical forests worldwide. According to a recent assessment, the global extent of mangroves in 2020 was 14.8 million ha (FAO, 2023). The most extensive mangrove area is found in south and southeast asia, followed by south america, western and central africa, north and central america, and oceania. Five countries (indonesia, brazil, nigeria, mexico and australia) together account for 47 percent of the total global mangrove area, and 63 percent of the total mangrove area is found in just ten countries (FAO, 2020).

Despite the importance of ecosystem services provided by mangroves (e. g. Timber, non-wood forest products, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, coastal disaster mitigation, etc. ), mangroves continue to be lost and converted to other uses, including aquaculture, agriculture, urban development and infrastructure. Natural retraction, at least in part a likely consequence of the impacts of climate change, is also a key driver of mangrove loss.

Between 2000 and 2020, 677 thousand ha of mangroves were lost, which was partially offset by the expansion of 393 thousand ha of mangroves, resulting in net loss of 284 thousand ha over the 20-year period. This highlights the dynamic nature of mangroves, with coastal ecosystems transitioning from one form to another as environmental conditions change.

The rate of mangrove loss has slowed globally in recent decades due to greater awareness of the many benefits of mangroves and as more mangrove areas are placed under protection. Nevertheless, mangrove forests continue to be threatened and lost at alarming rates in certain locations.

Relevant links