Did you know that mangroves act like a water and air purifier for our Earth?

They make up what are known as ‘blue carbon ecosystems’ that include tidal marshes, mangroves seagrass and the marine life that live within them. Together they make up the ocean’s natural infrastructure that captures and stores carbon. Less than 0.5% of the coast is covered by this ecosystem, yet it is responsible for “70% of the carbon permanently stored in the marine realm.” But these ecosystems are rapidly diminishing, and their preservation is essential to the long-term environmental and economic sustainability of people worldwide, like in the Lower Lempa of El Salvador.

This year, we are celebrating our joining the International Partnership for Blue Carbon, a network of over 30 governmental, research and nonprofit institutions working to preserve and protect coastal blue carbon ecosystems.

These ecosystems are globally significant carbon sinks – sequestering two to four times more carbon than terrestrial forests – and are increasingly being recognised for their role in mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. Coastal blue carbon ecosystems also help protect coastlines, regulate water quality, provide habitat for commercially important fisheries and endangered marine species, and provide food security and sustainable livelihoods for many coastal communities.

We’ve joined the partnership to learn, connect and share knowledge about blue carbon management and to share the work of our Salvadoran partners who have developed a set of practices that protect and restore the mangrove forests of the Bay of Jiquilisco and the Lower lempa. Together we will:

• Build Awareness
• Share Knowledge
• Accelerate Practical Action

Upon finding out about EcoViva’s acceptance into the network, our Executive Director Karolo Aparicio said, “I’m really excited for our partners to both teach and learn about techniques and approaches that will ensure the survival of mangrove forests.”

Read our related blogs on climate change, mangroves and why we need to protect them.