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Given the high values and multiple benefits
of mangroves, as evidenced by this report,
focusing on mangroves could be attractive
to REDD+ policymakers who are interested
in maximizing social and environmental
benefits for communities. However, in order
for mangroves to be included in REDD+
strategies, it is imperative that the countries
have a national definition of forests that
includes mangroves in the definition. If this is
not the case, then it is not possible to include
activities focusing on mangroves in national
REDD+ strategies. At this stage national
REDD+ strategies are being developed for the
region, and it is the opportune time to include
activities focusing on mangroves and the
multiple benefits mangroves deliver.
The report points to the mangroves of Central
Africa as being an exceptional ecosystem
relative to global carbon stocks, with higher
carbon stocks measured here than many
other ecosystems around the world. REDD+
strategies can incentivize and support
conservation, sustainable management of
forests and enhancement of forest carbon
stocks. This report thus provides a strong case
for the inclusion of mangroves in national
REDD+ strategies given their high carbon
value and additional multiple benefits, and
also the levels of threat to the ecosystem and
the associated rates of loss in the region. We
hope that this report can serve as a baseline
study for future regional and national studies
on mangrove ecosystems, as well as for the
development and implementation of climate
change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
It would be beneficial that mangroves be part
of REDD+ strategies as REDD+ processes not
only could attract additional financial resources
to mangroves, but REDD+ also offers an avenue
to design integrated and comprehensive policy-
based solutions to mangrove deforestation.
Mangrove measurements in Ntem © Gordon N Ajonina