Sent 24 July 2020. Part of Little Blue Letter.

“We inherited these mangroves from our ancestors.
They provide us with the materials and resources we need to survive.
I want to make sure we can pass these forests on to our children"

~ Mr. François, member of Velondriake locally managed marine area (LMMA)
President of the Dina (local governance) Committee, southwest Madagascar

Supertrees between land and sea
This Sunday marks the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem 🌱🌿 Mangroves offer myriad of benefits to both people and nature: they act as a barrier between villages and the ocean in the face of tropical storms and rising sea levels, they are a vital habitat for creatures great and small, and they provide a foundation for coastal livelihoods and food security for isolated communities.

The vibrant mangroves of southwest Madagascar
© Louise Jasper, Blue Ventures

But mangroves have one more trick up their sleeve… they can absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, making them one of the most effective natural climate change solutions available. Despite this, they are being deforested at an alarming rate, threatening both the lives of the communities who depend on them and the fate of our environment.

New research from Madagascar proves the huge value of mangroves, and their ability to lock away CO2 in the face of the climate crisis – supporting international calls to emphasise their conservation. Even reforested mangrove soils can take decades to restore to health, and to counterbalance the increased amount of CO2 lost from these degraded soils, at least 4.5 hectares of mangroves would need to be replanted for every 1 hectare deforested to come close to matching the CO2 stored over a ten year period. Keeping mangroves in the mud must be a priority!

On the box 📺 
  • You can learn more about this research in this video. 
  • Find out how communities are leading conservation efforts in Madagascar in this short film.​
Gif of the week
If you venture into the muddy mangroves of Madagascar,
you’ll no doubt come across one of these slippery fellas… a mudskipper!
#OceanOptimism
  • Research published last week shows that mangrove restoration offers a quick way to generate jobs, and provides returns of about $3 for every $1 spent, in the form of more productive fisheries and storm protection.
  • ​Beyond the fringes of the mangroves, community-led marine reserves in southwest Madagascar have proven to increase fish biomass by 189% - or in other words, community conservation means plenty more fish in the sea! 🐟🐠🐡
Join the conversation 📣💻
To celebrate International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, and in an increasingly digital landscape, there’s a whole host of online events happening for you to learn everything there is to know about mangroves.... 
Monkeys and mangroves 🐒🌱
Mangroves are home to a stunning array of wildlife, from tiny juvenile fish to leaping lemurs. In episode three of the BBC’s series 'Primates', SEED Madagascar's Trustee, Dr Heri Andrianandrasana, showcases his incredible work using drones and heat sensing as a conservation tool for the critically endangered Lac Alaotra Gentle Lemur. So sit back, relax and watch the full episode here.
From the editor
The two videos linked above are beautiful and definitely worth taking 10 minutes out of your day to watch :) Some screenshots: 

Don’t forget that the 6th International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC6) is happening online between 17-28 August. Registration is now open and you can check out the schedule here.
 
 
Curated this week by Kerensa Keevill and Ngaio Bowthorpe.
Kerensa and Ngaio are part of the Communications team at Blue Ventures,
a community-focused marine conservation organisation working across the coastal tropics.
Editing etc. by Glen Wright. Glen is a researcher studying marine governance, the high seas, and ocean energy. He is a drinker of tea, lover of the sea, and an Oxford comma user. 
Glen recently published Academia Obscura: The Hidden Silly Side of Higher Education.
🌊🌊🌊

Little Blue Letter is a splash of uplifting ocean stuff,
lovingly curated by young ocean leaders
and shipped straight to your inbox every Friday.

Sign up, pass it on, follow on twitter, or write an edition.

🌊🌊🌊