The WWF is run at a local level by the following offices...
- WWF Global
- Adria
- Argentina
- Armenia
- AsiaPacific
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belgium
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Borneo
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Caucasus
- Central African Republic
- Central America
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- European Policy Office
- Finland
"Blue forests" -- mangroves, seagrass meadows, saltmarshes, and seaweeds -- are habitat multitaskers. They benefit communities, wildlife and our climate.
Mangroves, seagrasses and saltmarshes can store large amounts of carbon in their sediments, with rates that can be 10 times higher per hectare than terrestrial ecosystems. Their vital climate mitigation function, paired with other services such as fisheries habitat and coastal protection, make blue forests among the most effective nature-based solutions.
But, worldwide, human activities are responsible for the loss of huge swaths of these valuable habitats. WWF is working with partners to prioritize conservation and restoration of these powerful climate allies.
Spotlight on seagrass
The Mediterranean region has over 2 million hectares of Posidonia oceanica (a species of seagrass) meadows distributed along its coastlines. But over the last 50 years, we have lost an estimated 34% of them, mainly due to anchoring, pollution and climate change. WWF is working across the Mediterranean with local communities, scientists, policymakers and financial institutions to help protect Posidonia meadows while preserving the livelihood of local people and economies.
HABITAT LOSS
In recent decades deforestation for aquaculture, agriculture, and coastal development has wiped out millions of hectares of mangroves. We’ve lost 50% of the world’s mangroves just in the past half century, and if current trends continue, the remaining mangroves could be gone within the next 100 years.Seagrass meadows have been removed to suit the tastes of tourists and saltmarshes -- like many wetlands -- have been dredged and developed in ways that expose them to pollution, invasive species, erosion and sea-level rise.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change is a threat to many marine habitats. Strong cyclones fueled by warmer ocean temperatures can damage mangroves. Seawater temperatures above 43˚C will kill tropical seagrass. Strong storms and ocean acidification are threats to seaweeds, as well.
Around the world, WWF is working to protect remaining blue forests and restore those that have already been lost or degraded. Our blue forest conservation efforts have focused primarily on mangroves and seagrasses, but the interconnected nature of these ecosystems and the services they provide means there’s an even greater opportunity to expand their benefit through a holistic approach.
Partnerships: WWF is collaborating in the Global Mangrove Alliance to support projects that reverse the ongoing loss of critically important mangroves through policy reform, new technologies, improved land use management, and investment in on-the-ground conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of mangroves.
Innovation: Seagrass Ocean Rescue is WWF's ambitious plan to help the UK restore 15% of seagrass habitats by 2030. To achieve impact at scale, the partnership is trialing mechanization of some elements of the process, from seed collection and seed processing, through to seed planting. This work aims to make it easier and quicker to restore larger areas of seagrass.
Creating opportunities: Seaweeds can do more than sequester carbon -- they can be a source of income and nutritious food. Seaweed can even be made into a climate-friendly alternative to plastic! In places where overfishing has left coastal communities struggling, seaweed farming is one opportunity to secure a sustainable livelihood.
