Feature Story

By Guido Schmidt-Traub, executive director, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network

The International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem on 26 July aims to raise awareness of the valuable services provided by mangrove ecosystems. From Indonesia to Madagascar and Honduras, the GEF has invested in many projects that recognize the value of mangroves in protecting our environment. 

Small island developing states (SIDS), including the Cook Islands, are highly vulnerable to climate change and sea level rise due to their small land masses and vast ocean surroundings. Their socio-economic development is hindered by their isolation from foreign markets, limited natural resources, inadequate infrastructure and periodic devastation from natural disasters.

Located 245 kilometres southeast of Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, Bundala National Park is an internationally important wintering ground for migratory water birds.

Bundala is not solely a paradise for migratory birds, it is also a haven for significant biological diversity. However, this natural wealth is under threat from invasive non-native species. These non-natives grow rapidly and compete vigorously, pushing out native species and altering ecosystems.

By Andreas Merkl, president, Ocean Conservancy

After spurning Apollo’s advances, the Greek goddess Cassandra was punished in a particularly cruel way. She was given the power of prophecy, but robbed of all credibility. She could see all, but warn no one.

By Rupert Howes, CEO, The Marine Stewardship Council

Our oceans are in trouble. Acidification, plastics and other pollution, and climate change present enormous challenges, and we have little time to act to avoid pending catastrophe for humanity and marine ecosystems worldwide.

Seven different species of sea turtles – also known as marine turtles – inhabit our oceans. Of these seven, only the green turtle has a stable population in Malaysia.

Sri Lankan tea farmer Saman Udayakumara, a community leader in Sri Lanka’s Central Mountains, used to get rid of the weeds on his small tea farm by spraying them with herbicides. He also used a lot of chemical fertilizer. But he was puzzled. Despite his hard work and good rainfall, his tea yields were declining each year.

Then, a few years ago, the Rainforest Alliance introduced him to the idea that indiscriminately dousing weeds with expensive herbicide was good neither for his profits nor his tea crop.

Before you can stop deforestation, you have to know what’s causing it. And in the case of tropical forests, the answer is clear: Most deforestation is driven by commercial agriculture, namely the production of palm, soy, timber and cattle – the so-called “big four” commodities.

“Hace 20 años, en otoño hacía frío y pescábamos pulpo. Ahora, el clima ha cambiado y no hemos podido pescar. No sabemos qué hacer, pero necesitamos soluciones concretas para vivir en mejores condiciones.” – Jamal Zayoud, pescador, Djerba

Djerba y la mayoría del litoral de Túnez enfrentan un nivel de presión ambiental sin precedentes debido al cambio climático, que se agrava por el hecho de que las actividades humanas y las economías locales dependen en especial de los ecosistemas costeros.