Year of publication 2014

Mangroves for the Future (MFF) is a unique partner-led initiative to promote investment in coastal ecosystem conservation for sustainable development. It provides a collaborative platform among the many different agencies, sectors and countries who are addressing challenges to coastal ecosystem and livelihood issues, to work towards a common goal. MFF builds on a history of coastal management interventions before and after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, especially the call to continue the momentum and partnerships generated by the immediate post-tsunami response. It initially focused on the countries worst-affected by the tsunami; India, Indonesia, Maldives, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, and expanded to include Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan and Viet Nam. MFF will continue to reach out other countries of the region that face similar issues, with an overall aim to promote an integrated ocean wide approach to coastal zone management. The initiative uses mangroves as a flagship ecosystem, but MFF is inclusive of all coastal ecosystems, including coral reefs, estuaries, lagoons, sandy beaches, sea grasses and wetlands. Its long-term management strategy is based on identified needs and priorities for long-term sustainable coastal ecosystem management.