These stunning photographs show how vital mangroves are to the health of the planet

Mangrove forests, with their roots knee-deep in the sea, provide shelter for endangered wildlife, food for coastal communities, and a rich ecosystem with the ability to extract up to five times as much carbon from the atmosphere as forests on land.

Yet mangrove ecosystems around the world are under threat. In some regions, more than 80% have already been lost. Raising awareness of the vital role that mangroves play in both biodiversity and environmental sustainability is more important than ever.

As the winners of the Mangrove Photography Award 2021 show, mangroves are deeply entwined with life on the shoreline, from the Caribbean to the Middle East and from the Philippines to the Florida coast.

The competition is run by the Mangrove Action Project. Now in its seventh year, it has attracted entries from 65 countries. Here are some of its most impressive submissions.

Overall Winner: “A Brave Livelihood” — Musfiqur Rahman, Bangladesh

Winner of Mangroves & Landscape: “Autumn Tree” — Zohaib Anjun, UAE

Winner of Mangroves & Wildlife: “Adaptation of the Bengal Tiger” — Arijit Das, India

Winner of Mangroves & People: “Mangrove Propagators” — Mark Kevin Badayos, Philippines

Winner of Mangroves & Underwater: “Shelter” — Shane Gross, Bahamas

Winner of Mangroves & Threats: “Garbage” — Mark Kevin Badayos, Philippines

Winner of Mangroves & Youth: “Coastal Phantom” — Caleb Hoover, USA

Asides from hosting the photography competition, the Mangrove Action Project is actively engaged in preserving, conserving, and restoring the world’s mangrove forests, including as a Knowledge Partner of the Mangroves Working Group, led by Friends of Ocean Action.