Posted on July, 26 2025

Suva, Fiji - As we celebrate World Mangrove Day today, we are reminded that mangroves are more than trees growing in muddy coastal waters—they are vital to the wellbeing, resilience, and livelihoods of our Pacific communities.

Across the Pacific, from the shores of Fiji to the coasts of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, mangroves provide essential services that sustain both people and nature. They are nurseries for fish and invertebrates harvested by coastal households. They protect villages and infrastructure from rising seas, erosion, and cyclones. And they are some of the most resilient ecosystems for capturing and storing carbon—critical in our collective fight against climate change.

Yet despite their enormous value, mangroves are still under threat. In Fiji, large tracts were historically cleared for agriculture, tourism, and urban development. Today, the challenge lies not just in conservation, but in governance. The legal responsibility for mangrove management is currently shared across multiple ministries, creating overlaps and gaps. And with this, WWF supports current government efforts to harmonize this through a proposed national mangrove regulation under the Environment Management Act—an important step toward ensuring mangroves are sustainably managed for future generations.

In the Solomon Islands, where WWF has worked with communities for decades, mangrove conservation is deeply embedded in local knowledge and traditional management practices. This includes collaboration with women’s groups and village leaders to integrate mangrove protection into broader community-based resource management plans. This approach ensures that mangrove health is tied to food security, sustainable livelihoods, and cultural identity.

In Papua New Guinea, mangrove forests along the coastlines are vital to both biodiversity and local economies. WWF is working with local partners to map and monitor these ecosystems while empowering communities to lead their conservation. In places like Madang and Western Province, mangrove replanting and awareness programs are helping communities strengthen their resilience to climate impacts.

But across the region, the needs are the same—greater recognition, protection, and investment in mangroves as natural infrastructure. These ecosystems are a frontline defense against climate change and rising sea levels. They support economies—from fisheries to tourism—and they act as a natural social safety net, particularly for informal and vulnerable settlements that rely on them for food and income.

At WWF, we are committed to elevating the importance of mangroves through science, policy, and partnerships. We support governments and communities in their efforts to protect these systems and amplify local voices calling for stronger political will and practical action.

Let World Mangrove Day be more than just a date on the calendar. Let it be a moment of reflection and a renewed commitment to place mangroves where they belong—at the heart of development planning, climate strategies, and community wellbeing.

“Mangroves are integral to the daily lives of communities and economies in the Pacific. It is even now more so critical towards adaptation under a warming planet. WWF will continue to support and amplify the voices of communities on the need for stronger political action to protect and better manage mangroves in Fiji and the region.”
— Hanna Helsingen, Pacific Director, WWF-Pacific