Largest Protected Mangrove Belt, Now Even Larger

Two new conservation areas will protect an additional 74,700 hectares of mangroves across the Amazonian coastline.

“With the creation of Filhos do Mangue and Viriandeau, we have here a formation of a great shield, a great area of protection of the Amazonian mangroves. [These mangoves] are rich in biodiversity and provide a way of life to numerous families that benefit from these resources,” says Mauro Pires, president of the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.

Brazil’s Parà state spent more than 13 years trying to turn this project into a reality. The recent victory is significant both ecologically and for local populations who engage in traditional and sustainable practices with the land and wildlife. These reserves will also keep out big corporations and ensure that only local communities can engage with the land. Mangroves themselves play an essential role in protecting the planet as they can store large amounts of carbon in their roots, marking their place as one of the most carbon-rich ecosystems in the world today. The win is celebrated by environmentalists, who recognize this region’s importance for local communities, biodiversity, and planet Earth.