Mangrove forest: protecting, sustaining and providing. Photo: R. Carrillo, ITTO
26 July is the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, as adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO, underlining the importance of mangroves as “a unique, special and vulnerable ecosystem, providing by virtue of their existence, biomass and productivity substantial benefits to human beings, providing forestry, fishery goods and services as well as contributing to the protection of the coastline and being particularly relevant in terms of mitigation of the effects of climate change and food security for local communities." On this special day, ITTO releases a new publication on mangroves produced under the project RED-PD 045/11 Rev.2 (M), entitled –Conociendo los manglares, las selvas inundables y los humedales herbáceos– (“Knowing mangroves, flooded forests and herbaceous wetlands”), available in Spanish only.