What is the Mangrove Alliance for Climate, which India joined at COP27?

Source: The post is based on the article “What is the Mangrove Alliance for Climate, which India joined at COP27?” published in Indian Express on 11th November 2022.

What is the News?

At the 27th Session of Conference of Parties(COP27), Mangrove Alliance for Climate(MAC) was launched with India as a partner.

What is the Mangrove Alliance for Climate(MAC)?

Led by: United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Indonesia

Aim: To educate and spread awareness worldwide on the role of mangroves in curbing global warming and its potential as a solution for climate change.

Members: United Arab Emirates(UAE), Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Japan and Spain.

Working: The alliance works on a voluntary basis which means that there are no real checks and balances to hold members accountable. Instead, the parties will decide their own commitments and deadlines regarding the planting and restoring mangroves. 

– The members will also share expertise and support each other in researching, managing and protecting coastal areas.

What is the current state of mangroves?

South Asia houses some of the most extensive areas of mangroves globally, while Indonesia hosts one-fifth of the overall amount.

India holds around 3% of South Asia’s mangrove population. Besides the Sundarbans in West Bengal, the Andamans region, the Kachchh and Jamnagar areas in Gujarat too have substantial mangrove cover.

However, infrastructure projects — industrial expansion and building of roads and railways, and natural processes — shifting coastlines, coastal erosion and storms, have resulted in a significant decrease in mangrove habitats.

According to the Global Mangrove Alliance 2022 report, between 2010 and 2020, around 600 sq km of mangroves were lost of which more than 62% was due to direct human impacts.