Mangroves for the Future
Mangroves for the Future (MFF) is a unique partner-led initiative to promote investment in coastal ecosystem conservation for sustainable development. It provides a collaborative platform among the many different agencies, sectors and countries who are addressing challenges to coastal ecosystem and livelihood issues, to work towards a common goal.
MFF builds on a history of coastal management interventions before and after the 2004 tsunami, especially the call to continue the momentum and partnerships generated by the immediate post-tsunami response. MFF supports moving from a reactive response to disasters, to progressive activities that address long term sustainable management needs. These include building awareness and capacity for improved food and livelihood security, disaster preparedness, and climate change adaptation.
MFF seeks to support economic development by bringing practical conservation actions more effectively into the development planning process, ensuring that coastal ecosystem goods and services are fully valued and protected as an integral part of the coastal development infrastructure. MFF addresses this need by promoting regional collaboration and joint action that will fill the gaps in capacity, knowledge and empowerment among coastal managers to maximize positive socioeconomic and ecological impacts.
MFF focuses on the countries worst-affected by the 2004 tsunami; India, Indonesia, Maldives, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. However, MFF will also include other countries of the Region that face similar issues, with an overall aim to promote an integrated ocean wide approach to coastal zone management.
The initiative uses mangroves as a flagship ecosystem in recognition of the destruction caused to mangroves by the tsunami, but MFF is inclusive of all coastal ecosystems, including coral reefs, estuaries, lagoons, sandy beaches, sea grasses and wetlands.
Key objectives
MFF has two objectives: to strengthen the environmental sustainability of coastal development; and to promote the investment in coastal ecosystem management. To achieve these objectives MFF, undertakes actions under three cross-cutting themes: knowledge, empowerment, and governance. The actions also address four key areas; regional cooperation, national government support, private sector engagement, and community action.
The partnership
MFF was initiated by IUCN and UNDP but has grown to include other UN agencies such as FAO and UNEP, as well as international development organizations such as CARE and Wetlands International. The partnership joins efforts to not only conserve and restore ecosystems but to sustain human livelihoods and reduce vulnerability in coastal communities.
MFF Links
