Protecting mangroves and coastal communities through plastic waste removal

Mangroves are lifelines for coastal ecosystems, protecting coastlines from erosion, safeguarding biodiversity, and acting as natural carbon sinks. Current studies suggest that mangroves and coastal wetlands annually sequester carbon at a rate ten times greater than mature tropical forests. They also store three to five times more carbon per equivalent area than tropical forests.

Yet, they face significant threats, with plastic pollution being one of the most severe to them. Does plastic waste kill mangroves? Yes, it does (Smith, 2012). Decades of mismanaged waste have left layers of plastic choking mangrove roots and endangering the species they shelter.?

Worse, plastic waste is not just a visible problem. As it degrades into microplastics, it becomes a carrier for harmful pollutants and heavy metals, infiltrating marine food chains. These pollutants weaken ecosystems, reduce species’ growth and reproductive rates, and threaten the food security of coastal communities reliant on fisheries.

Mangroves reclaimed: a community-led effort

Over the past three years, fishers participating in the Fishing for Litter programme have removed an estimated 320 tons of plastic waste from nearly 10 km of mangroves in hard-to-reach areas, uncovering layers of debris accumulated over decades. “Litter blocks roots and crab holes, preventing them from escaping.” explains Alair, one of the fishers involved. Another participant, Naldo, recounts finding nets filled with dying crabs trapped amid the waste.

Mangroves are challenging to clean, requiring fishers to hand-pick waste, often using knives and crowbars to tackle the difficult task of removing waterlogged upholstery and other forms of plastic material embedded deep in mud and sand. The task is labor-intensive as the fishers’ efforts target the three types of mangroves—red, black, and white—addressing visible and hard-to-reach pollution hotspots, critical for ecosystem recovery and strengthening mangroves’ resilience to climate change.?

Empowering fishers, protecting the future

These efforts are not just about cleaning up; they’re about ensuring the future health of the ecosystem, providing much-needed relief to mangrove vegetation and animal species being smothered by plastic waste. Fishing for Litter’s community-driven approach puts local fishers, impacted by the decline in fish populations and biodiversity, at the forefront of this effort.?

BVRio’s performance-based mechanism facilitates payment directly to the fishers for the environmental service of waste recovery and sorting, allowing them to take charge of their environment and help to protect mangroves and coastal areas. The programme combines community action with technology and finance, offering incentives to those most in need and able to create an impact, a blueprint for expanding efforts to combat plastic pollution that can be replicated in other regions around the globe facing similar challenges.