Mangrove Forest Initiatives

Sri Lanka has launched a project to restore its mangrove forests, aiming to increase their coverage by more than 50% by 2030. This initiative has been recognized by the United Nations as a World Restoration Flagship, showcasing the country’s commitment to protecting its ecosystems and coasts.

The plan targets the restoration of "10,000 hectares of mangroves by 2030 and has been praised by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as one of the best examples of large-scale ecosystem recovery worldwide."

The importance of mangrove forests "became clear after the 2004 tsunami, which caused great damage; initially, the restoration efforts focused on planting mangroves, but the survival rate was low." As a result, the strategy changed to support natural growth, leading to the restoration of 500 hectares since 2015 with help from international partnerships. Ultimately, the new approach includes using science and involving local communities in the process.

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