Welfare of Animals in Mangrove Ecosystems

Mangrove forests support extraordinary biodiversity and their degradation causes welfare harm to the fish, crustaceans, birds, and mammals that depend on them.

Key Facts

Mangroves cover approximately 150,000 square kilometers of tropical coastline globally
Over 1,000 vertebrate species depend on mangroves at some life stage
Shrimp farming has destroyed 38% of global mangroves since 1980
Mangroves absorb 4-5 times more carbon per hectare than tropical forests
Restored mangroves recover biodiversity within 5-10 years of protection

Welfare Considerations

Mangrove destruction causes welfare harm distributed across hundreds of species simultaneously. Juvenile fish that use mangroves as nursery habitat have no alternatives when mangroves are cleared. Shorebirds that roost in mangroves lose thermal refugia. Estuarine crocodilians lose nesting habitat. The welfare dimension of mangrove destruction is invisible because it is distributed across millions of individual animals in remote coastal habitats. Restoration is one of the highest welfare-impact conservation investments available.

What You Can Do

Support mangrove restoration programs in tropical coastal regions
Avoid purchasing shrimp from farms that have displaced mangrove habitat
Advocate for coastal development regulations that require mangrove preservation
Donate to organizations working to restore and protect mangrove ecosystems globally