Martinican Marine Natural Park
The Martinican Marine Natural Park (MMNP) was established in 2018 to protect key marine habitats, including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, and open waters. These areas are home to important species like sea turtles, dolphins, and tropical fish. The park’s conservation efforts focus on addressing threats from human activities such as pollution and overfishing. It also collaborates with ocean-related industries, such as tourism and fishing, by recommending, funding, or conducting research aimed at promoting more sustainable practices within the MMNP.
To support its work, the park operates a growing fleet of boats that raise public awareness, resolve conflicts, and enforce the protection of designated areas. The MMNP spans an area of 47,340 km², extending from Martinique's coast to the boundary of the French Exclusive Economic Zone. The park's management board, which includes diverse stakeholders, must be consulted for advice on development activities that impact the marine environment. Their goal is to balance competing interests within the region.
The park receives funding from the French Office for Biodiversity (OBF) to carry out initiatives that protect the marine environment, promote sustainability, and raise public awareness. Notable efforts include creating or restoring habitats for species such as sea turtles and sea urchins, managing invasive species like sargassum algae, restoring coral reefs, and training resource users such as whale-watching companies and diving clubs. Other initiatives include reducing plastic pollution through clean-ups, supporting sustainable fishing practices (e.g., artisanal coastal fishing), installing eco-friendly moorings, funding Marine Educational Areas (MEAs), and sponsoring cultural events that promote marine conservation (Ref 1; 2; 3).
To support its work, the park operates a growing fleet of boats that raise public awareness, resolve conflicts, and enforce the protection of designated areas. The MMNP spans an area of 47,340 km², extending from Martinique's coast to the boundary of the French Exclusive Economic Zone. The park's management board, which includes diverse stakeholders, must be consulted for advice on development activities that impact the marine environment. Their goal is to balance competing interests within the region.
The park receives funding from the French Office for Biodiversity (OBF) to carry out initiatives that protect the marine environment, promote sustainability, and raise public awareness. Notable efforts include creating or restoring habitats for species such as sea turtles and sea urchins, managing invasive species like sargassum algae, restoring coral reefs, and training resource users such as whale-watching companies and diving clubs. Other initiatives include reducing plastic pollution through clean-ups, supporting sustainable fishing practices (e.g., artisanal coastal fishing), installing eco-friendly moorings, funding Marine Educational Areas (MEAs), and sponsoring cultural events that promote marine conservation (Ref 1; 2; 3).
Bangpu Nature Education Center
Due to the decreasing number of mangrove forests in the inner Gulf of Thailand, WWF Thailand aspires to protect the remaining mangroves. Supporting this objective, WWF worked with Royal Thai Army (RTA) and several other partners to establish the Bangpu Nature Education centre. The centre is located on the land of the army, which contains one of the last indigenous mangrove forests in the inner Gulf of Thailand area. The education centre offers knowledge about mangroves, mudflat ecology and biodiversity through educational programs tailored for different visitor groups. Apart from the main visitor center and auditorium, the educational centre also has an outdoor area that includes an existing mangrove forest, salt marshes and mudflats with natural trails, observation towers and canopy walkways. The natural area is home to various native plants and wildlife, especially local and migratory birds. The site harbours 65 floras and 60 benthic faunas, and between 8,000 and 15,000 birds are estimated to use the site annually. Part of the area is an abandoned shrimp farm, waiting for nature to restore
(Ref.1,2,8).
(Ref.1,2,8).
Mangrove Eco-Park
The Bakhawan Eco-Park is a 220-hectare mangrove forest located in Kalibo, Aklan province, Philippines, that started as a reforestation project in 1990. It was a joint project of the local government and a non-government organization, Kalibo Save the Mangroves Association (KASAMA), with the aim of reforesting the muddy shoreline of New Buswang district to protect the community from floods and storm surges [1,2]. Aside from preventing floods, the eco-park also provides locals with livelihood opportunities, mitigates the effects of climate change, and serves as a habitat for various mangrove tree species, birds, and marine life [1,2]. The project's success is largely attributed to the active involvement and support of the local community, with some families playing an integral role in the reforestation program. [2] Notably, the involvement of local women in the NBS initiative has contributed to the success of mangrove conservation. Some women have also taken on the task of policing the mangroves to prevent illegal tree-cutting by trespassers [4]. Today, the eco-park is acknowledged as one of the most successful mangrove reforestation project in the Philippines [1]
Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary: management plan
The northern part of Thane Creek in Navi Mumbai was declared a 'Protected Area' in 2015 by the Maharashtra Government (1,2,4). As the Central Asian Migratory Flyway (CAMF) ecosystem, it is occupied by a large number of wading birds, especially Lesser Flamingos and Greater Flamingos (1,2). Recently, a Management Plan has been proposed to guide the sustainable management of the 'Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS)' (1).
The Management Plan (2020-2030), proposed by the Mumbai Mangrove Conservation Unit (MMCU) proposed implementation plans for the conservation of Flamingo species, mangrove management, eco-tourism, education and awareness raising, as well as participatory decision-making (1).
Thane Creek harbours rich biodiversity and spreads over an area of 1690ha (896ha of mangroves and 794ha of adjacent creek water body) (1,2,3). Also, it is located right amidst a mega-city, being crucial to conserving this unique natural environment with its eclectic mix of mangroves, mudflats and threatened bird species (1,2).
The Management Plan (2020-2030), proposed by the Mumbai Mangrove Conservation Unit (MMCU) proposed implementation plans for the conservation of Flamingo species, mangrove management, eco-tourism, education and awareness raising, as well as participatory decision-making (1).
Thane Creek harbours rich biodiversity and spreads over an area of 1690ha (896ha of mangroves and 794ha of adjacent creek water body) (1,2,3). Also, it is located right amidst a mega-city, being crucial to conserving this unique natural environment with its eclectic mix of mangroves, mudflats and threatened bird species (1,2).
Greening and Conserving Pirojshanagar’s Mangroves
Pirojshanagar Township is an industrial and residential establishment of the company Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co Ltd (G&B), located in the Vikhroli suburb of Mumbai city along Thane creek, with diverse natural and human-made habitats (1,2). Of the 16 km2 area of the Township, approximately 12 km2 is occupied by the mangrove ecosystem and its associated habitats (1,2). Upon recognizing the importance of this ecosystem, G&B decided to prioritize the conservation of the mangroves that grew along the banks of the newly acquired land (along the Thane Creek west bank) (1,2). Pirojshanagar, with its biodiverse mangrove forest, is sandwiched between two solid waste dumping grounds of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which only increases its importance in the landscape and makes it a green oasis that acts as a carbon sink (1). It was a research-based project and the first successful mangrove conservation project in Mumbai, now serving as the Mumbai Metropolitan's green lung (1,2).
Siargao It Up: Mangrove Conservation
"Siargao It Up" is the mangrove conservation programme in Del Carmen, Siargao Islands of the Philippines. The municipality of Del Carmen hosts the largest mangrove forest in the Philippines – consisting of 4,871 hectares as of 2018. This mangrove forest is the habitat of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna both in marine, wetland and terrestrial areas. This ecosystem helps maintain the island's ecological balance by providing rich breeding grounds for aquatic lives. Furthermore, the forest plays a key role in capturing and storing carbon and helps the Philippines to meet its goal of carbon emission reduction. In addition to creating habitats and storing carbon, the forest also protects the community from the inevitable effects of climate change disasters. Recently, in December 2021, it was able to protect the residents from the onslaught of Typhoon Odette. [1, 2, 3]
Building With Nature: Mangrove Rehabilitation
Extensive and low-lying, Suriname’s coastal region has been identified as highly vulnerable to climate-induced sea-level rise (Ref. 1). "Momentarily the most endangered community by sea-level rise in the whole of South America and the Caribbean", the Suriname Building With Nature project has seen "wooden, water penetrable dams...being built to trap sediment and replant mangroves" (Ref. 1). Prior to the implementation of the Building With Nature project, no mitigation measures had been undertaken to protect the area, and "human interference ha[d] converted mangrove areas to agricultural land, fishing ponds and settlements", with the loss of stabilisation provided by the mangroves meaning that "the coast has become susceptible to flooding and erosion, losing up to 27 meters of land in one year" (Ref. 1). It has caused "displacement of local habitants and loss of livelihoods, [with]...the local population...and its fisheries, farms, and important religious and cultural sites [being] at risk to frequent flooding and land degradation" (Ref. 1). The Building With Nature approach is touted as being "essential for mangrove and biodiversity conservation and the enhancement of the quantity of the blue carbon sequestered in coastal areas" (Ref. 2).
Green belt for costal protection
A multi-purpose green belt (12 km in length of Batticaloa Municipal Corporation coast) was established to protect the lagoon and coastal areas, restore mangrove ecosystems and improve coastal biodiversity. The project comes under activity 1.3 of the overarching project Climate Resilient Action Plans for Coastal Urban Areas in Sri Lanka (CCSL). The project focuses on the most urgent and immediate needs of the Sri Lankan coastal cities in adapting to climate change, and mitigating risks and the severity of impacts through Disaster Risk Management (DRM). The green belt plantation was done with Casuarinas plantation in 400 ha (out of which 75% by Mandru and 25% by the Forest Department), mangrove forest redesigning and protection of the existing vegetation. [1, 2, 6]
Gorla Maggiore Water Park
The Gorla Maggiore water park, inaugurated in March 2013, is situated within the municipality of Gorla Maggiore, in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 30 kilometers northwest of Milan. The water park is a constructed wetlands (CW) built on the banks of the Olona river that includes (a) a pollutant removal area composed of a grid, a sedimentation tank and four vertical sub-surface flow constructed wetlands; (b) a multipurpose area with a surface flow constructed wetland or pond with multiple roles; and (c) a recreational park with restored riparian trees, green open space, walking and cycling paths. [1]
Solent Seagrass Project
This project is studying seagrass to learn more about the distribution and health of seagrass in the waters of the Solent. By learning about where seagrass exists it can be better protected. The Wildlife Trust have been visiting local seagrass sites including the harbour in Portsmouth (1). Measures that can be employed to help protect Zostera beds include Boat mooring management - a program of awareness to relieve pressure on seagrass in areas of high boating activity, such as the Solent (3) and restoration through seeding or transplanting seagrass and Improving habitat conditions to encourage natural regeneration and colonisation (3).
