Global Mangrove Cover Shows Net Growth Since 2010 After Decades of Decline

Scientists analysing four decades of satellite data found that the world’s mangrove area has been expanding since 2010, reversing a long‑term loss that once peaked in the 1990s. The net global loss since the 1980s has fallen to about 849 km², with recent gains outpacing removals. The study attributes the rebound to stronger legal protections, restoration projects and the forests’ natural ability to regenerate when left undisturbed. In Indonesia and Myanmar, post‑disaster awareness and bans on logging have helped mangroves stabilise and even grow. The proportion of dense, carbon‑rich closed‑canopy mangroves rose from roughly 50 % in the 1980s to 58 % by 2023, indicating healthier forests.

However, progress is uneven. West and Central Africa, especially Nigeria’s Niger Delta, continue to lose mangroves due to oil‑related pollution and pipeline construction. "This is good news for mangroves – there are more of them than we thought, and they are showing their resilience," said Dr Pete Bunting of Aberystwyth University. The researchers hope the positive trend will spur further conservation efforts worldwide.