Today on #InternationalMangroveDay, we shine a light on why mangroves matter.
Half of the world’s mangrove forests (more than 30 million hectares) have been destroyed or cleared in the past half-century, for agricultural and destructive development projects, in the name of ‘coastal reclamation’.
From Asia to Central America, mangroves are essential to entire ecosystems, economies and cultures. They are critical in stabilising shorelines, protecting coastal communities from high tides, providing habitat to myriad species of plant and animal life and reducing soil erosion. Furthermore, mangroves are pivotal in supporting the livelihood of coastal communities as they provide timber, food and other goods such as fish, oil and minerals.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (FoE Malaysia) has been campaigning for years against the Penang South Reclamation Project that will destroy mangroves, threaten marine biodiversity, and rob fishers and communities of access to coastal and marine resources, which they have traditionally relied upon for centuries.
Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific stand with Sahabat Alam Malaysia and the communities campaigning to protect mangroves forests. We call for the cancellation of all proposed reclamation projects and urge governments and decision-makers to implement policies to protect mangroves and sustain coastal environments.
Stop the deforestation of shorelines!
Stop the reclamation!
Find out more about the Campaign against the Penang South Reclamation Project.
Follow Sahabat Alam Malaysia (FoE Malaysia) on Facebook and Twitter for campaign updates.