8 powerful images from the Mangrove Photography Awards 2024

Worldwide, mangrove forests absorb the same amount of carbon annually as removing 4 million cars from the road for a year.

These blue carbon ecosystems can protect shoreline communities against storm surges, offer critical nursing environments for marine species and tackle coastal erosion.

But despite their evident importance, less than half of the world's original mangrove forest cover remains today.

One annual competition, now in its tenth year, has set out to promote the conservation and restoration of mangrove forests.

The Mangrove Photography Awards, organized by the Mangrove Action Project (MAP), helps to "raise awareness of the people and wildlife that rely on mangrove forests, the threats they face, and why urgent action is needed to protect them".

Here we dive into some of our favourite photos from this year's selection, which showcase the beauty and global significance of mangrove ecosystems around the world.

This landscape category winner "captures the timeless beauty and serenity of a landscape shaped by the delicate dance of water and mangroves".

'Operation Golden Honey', the mangrove honey collection mission shown here in India's Sundarbans, is sanctioned by the forest department.

The Mawli wear masks on the backs of their heads to deter tiger attacks, one of the many threats they face on this dangerous journey.

Their sustainable practices ensure the honey harvest does not harm the environment, allowing the mangrove forest and its inhabitants to continue thriving.

This wildlife category winner captures a rare and unique fishing behaviour used only by bottlenose dolphins living in the shallows of the mangrove-lined bays of Florida Bay and a few other locations in the Caribbean.

Mud-ring feeding involves a dolphin from the pod encircling a school of fish, kicking up sediments with its tail. The fish become 'trapped' in this circle of mud, causing them to jump out to 'safety' into the jaws of the dolphins.

Repeated tropical cyclones, sea level rise and mangrove deforestation have all contributed to the flooding affecting homes and farms in the Bay of Bengal.

This issue is not isolated; worldwide, millions of people in low-lying coastal communities are vulnerable to extreme weather and other impacts of human-induced climate change.

This keystone species is crucial for promoting the health of mangrove forests. By eating snails, crabs, clams and small fish, these turtles prevent overgrazing that could disrupt the ecosystem.

Taken in Indonesia, this image captures the vibrant range of colours in underwater mangrove habitats.

Indian mangrove forests have been cleared for fishing ponds in this image. Without considerable efforts to restore, manage and conserve these ecosystems, mangrove forest cover will continue to decline.

Communities feeling the impacts of climate change and mangrove degradation first-hand are working together to revive these ecosystems.

Bôndy, a private company working in ecosystem restoration, collaborates with local communities like this rural commune in Majunga, Madagascar to restore mangroves.

Friends of Ocean Action, in collaboration with 1t.org, has created the Mangroves Working Group to accelerate progress towards the conservation and restoration of mangrove forests.