| International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | International |
| Celebrations | UNESCO |
| Begins | 2016 |
| Date | 26 July |
| Next time | 26 July 2025 |
The International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem is a UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) holiday celebrated every year on 26 July, aiming to raise awareness and promote sustainable protection of mangroves ecosystem. [1]
This International Day was designated by the General Conference of UNESCO in 2015 and it was first held in July 2016. [2]
Mangroves are prolific ecosystems, supporting rich biodiversity, and their soils are effective carbon sinks. [3] They also form natural coastal barriers against storm surges. [4]
Yet, according to UNESCO, some countries lost more than 40% of their mangroves between 1980 and 2005. [5]
UNESCO's protection of the mangrove ecosystem involves the inclusion of mangroves in Biosphere Reserves, World Heritage sites and UNESCO Global Geoparks [3] as well as the protection of the blue carbon ecosystem. [6]