This year we celebrated International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem with a photo competition. We were overwhelmed with all the beautiful photos everyone entered from all across the Indian Ocean, thank you to everyone that entered.
We asked for your favourite mangrove related photos. Entries can include landscapes, pictures taken of you conducting mangrove field research, aerial drone photos or even photos from the water.
Our winners below fell into three categories:
- Resilience
- Future
- Community
Resilience Credit: Susantha Udagedara, Jaffna Lagoon, Sri Lanka
Mangroves provide employment, food security and coastal protection for millions of people globally. Historical losses mean that active restoration has never been more important. This mangrove sapling growing on an artificial rock is an illustration of how resilient they can be.
Future Credit: Yeti Kurniasari, Indonesia
This photo illustrates the importance of the next generation. A young child shown in a mangrove forest reminds us why action is critical.
Community Credit: Kasun Nuwarapaksha, Sri Lanka
Historical losses mean that active restoration has never been more important. This photo shows how local communities are partnering with government organisations to improve restoration outcomes.
Below are a few more of our favourites from the competition.
I’ll be surveying the upper Lane Cove River, admiring how these extraordinary mangrove ecosystems thrive in a bustling city
Credit: Roger Bluett NSW Environment Protection Authority Australia
protect and conserve mangrove ecosystem for better life in the future
Credit: Trisno Utomo, Indonesia
Sri Lanka Navy will conduct mangrove plantation programmes in every naval area that mangrove ecosystems are found. Sri Lanka Navy-Marine Conservation and Monitoring Unit will organize this programme being a leading agency in Sri Lanka that has contributed immensely to mangrove conservation of the country.
Credit: Lieutenant Commander Kasun Nuwarapaksha, Sri Lanka Navy
Sri Lanka Navy will conduct mangrove plantation programmes in every naval area that mangrove ecosystems are found. Sri Lanka Navy-Marine Conservation and Monitoring Unit will organize this programme being a leading agency in Sri Lanka that has contributed immensely to mangrove conservation of the country.
Credit: Lieutenant Commander Kasun Nuwarapaksha, Sri Lanka Navy
Credit: Mathiventhan Thavanayagam, Sri Lanka
Credit: Mathiventhan Thavanayagam, Sri Lanka
Mangroves help people and nature mitigate climate change. They store vast amounts
of carbon within the soil. We are happy to research this role of mangroves.
Credit: Mehdi Gh Shojaei, Iran
Credit: Depan Fathuddin, Makassar, Indonesia
In 2012 I contributed to the mangrove capital project and learnt about several mangroves in north Java. I found out that farmers were aware of the benefits of mangroves for sustainable fisheries.
Credit: Berto Naibaho, Indonesia
I will celebrate International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem with a newly updated map of Indonesian Mangrove that I involve in the updating process. With this map, we may be doing better mangrove rehabilitation. But, without plastic waste management, the mangrove ecosystem, the intact or rehabilitated mangroves, will be a dumping ground. Look at what I have in my picture! There is a lot of rubbish stranded in the mangroves, and there are Avicennia seeds sprouting in a "helmet" pot. I give the title of my picture: "Avicennia helmenensis" meaning Avicennia in a helmet. Hope you enjoy my picture and get the deep meaning.
Credit: Yaya Ulumuddin
