Bringing Back the Wetlands
Mangroves provide numerous benefits and services as a critical blue carbon ecosystem. But, unfortunately, they are also among the most threatened. China is reversing this trend with the national Mangroves Conservation and Restoration Action Plan with targets to restore 18,800 hectares of mangroves by 2025.
Conservation International (CI) China has been working in Guangdong province to protect and restore mangroves since 2016. The team explores scientific and cost-effective restoration ways in the Leizhou Peninsula while enhancing nature reserve management capacity and increasing community and public engagement. In 2021, we scaled our mangrove restoration efforts to the neighboring Hailing Island of Yangjiang City.
Our team in China has supported the design and feasibility studies of this project. To date, about 19,000 local species of mangrove trees have been planted on 1.88 hectares. Collaborating with partners, research institutes and other NGOs, the team identified the primary threat to the wetland ecosystem and devised a restoration strategy to control the invasive Spartina Alterniflora Loisel and replace it with native mangrove tree species.
The project benefits local communities by strengthening mangrove ecosystem services, raising the profile of the wetland park, offering additional working opportunities, and improving mooring space for fishing boats. Based on the population of the nearest Pinglan Village and Pingzhang Village, it is estimated that the project has benefited about 5864 villagers directly or indirectly. Additionally, the project helps about 1500 people online and offline, getting them excited about training on science-based conservation.
Community participation through outreach programs helped raise awareness of the importance of mangroves. By working across different sectors, the team regularly monitors vegetation, marine benthos and birds to track ecological changes during restoration.
We are proud to have Martell and Pernod Ricard China support this initiative. The CI China and Pernod Ricard team members participated in replanting activities on Tree Planting Day in March to restore mangroves. In addition, Martell will promote the impact of this project through artistic interpretation to show the importance of scientific mangrove restoration and conservation.
Building upon the success in Yangjiang, the CI-Martell Mangrove Conservation Initiative will expand its scope to Sanya, Hainan Island, and further restoration efforts in Yangjiang.