Doha, Qatar: In support of efforts to protect and enhance Qatar’s mangroves, Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future (Earthna), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has joined international conservation coalition, the Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA).

The membership will enable Earthna to collaborate with other organizations who collectively strive to advance mangrove conservation initiatives, share expertise and resources, and collaborate on projects that preserve these vital coastal ecosystems worldwide.

Earthna’s membership of the GMA coincides with the upcoming World Mangrove Day (WMD), which will take place on 26 July 2024. Celebrated annually, WMD was established by UNESCO in 2015 to highlight the critical importance of mangrove ecosystems and promote their sustainable management and  conservation.

On the importance of Earthna joining GMA, Dr Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, Executive Director of Earthna, said: “Mangrove forests play an incredible role in advancing global sustainability and the fight against climate change. They absorb high-levels of carbon, buffer against the impacts of climate change like storm surges and sea level rise, support biodiversity, improve water quality, and prevent coastal erosion. By working closely with the Global Mangroves Alliance and its partners, Earthna will leverage collective expertise and resources to help safeguard these critical coastal habitats here in Qatar, and worldwide.”

The GMA unites technical experts, civil society organizations, governments, local communities, businesses, funding agencies, and foundations to accelerate coordinated global action to conserve and restore mangroves, with an aim to expand the global mangrove habitat by 20 percent by 2030. The alliance includes leading international organizations such as Conservation International, The International Union for the Conservation of Nature, The Nature Conservancy, Wetlands International and World Wildlife Fund, among many others.

Earthna’s membership of the Global Mangrove Alliance, and involvement in local restoration projects, highlights its ongoing efforts towards sustainability and reinforces its commitment to creating lasting environmental solutions.