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Ecosystem Profile

Coastal Zones

The narrow band where land meets sea concentrates an outsized share of both biodiversity and human development pressure — and mangroves, one of its defining habitats, are disappearing even as the pace of loss has recently slowed.

Published May 2026 Last reviewed July 2026 Evidence level Strong Reading time 5 min

Overview

Coastal zones — mangroves, salt marshes, seagrass beds, and estuaries — form the transition between terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and are among the most biologically productive habitats on Earth, serving as nurseries for a large share of commercially fished marine species.

Established fact

Between 2000 and 2020, conversion to aquaculture, oil palm plantations, and rice cultivation accounted for up to 43% of global mangrove losses. FAO and Global Mangrove Watch data show the rate of mangrove loss has slowed measurably since 2010, though losses continue in several regions.

Source: FAO / Global Mangrove Watch, State of the World's Mangroves 2024

Protection Status

40%of remaining global mangroves are within protected areas
<5%–75%+range of national mangrove protection rates — some countries protect over 75%, others under 5%

Pressures

Aquaculture conversionShrimp farming and other aquaculture development is one of the largest documented drivers of mangrove clearance across Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Sea level riseRising seas threaten to outpace the natural sediment accretion rate of some mangrove and marsh systems, particularly in low-lying deltas such as the Sundarbans.
Coastal developmentUrban and tourism infrastructure expansion continues to convert coastal wetland habitat directly, particularly in rapidly growing coastal cities.

Conservation Potential

Every dollar invested in coastal wetland restoration is estimated to generate between $5 and $35 in ecosystem service benefits, and restoring 1.5 million hectares of mangroves by 2030 could sequester more than 150 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent — making mangrove restoration one of the more cost-effective nature-based climate interventions currently identified.

Uncertainty & Evidence Gaps

Mangrove extent and loss are tracked well via satellite (Global Mangrove Watch), giving this ecosystem stronger data coverage than most; less-monitored coastal habitats such as salt marshes and seagrass meadows have comparatively sparser global tracking.