Study Warns of Severe Mangrove Decline in Maldives Due to Climate Change
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The Maldives is witnessing a significant decline in its mangrove ecosystems, with climate change and sea level fluctuations identified as key drivers, according to a recent study conducted under a joint India- Maldives research initiative.
The study, carried out by researchers from the School of Marine Biology at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) in collaboration with the Maldives Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), found that the northern islands experienced a major mangrove dieback between March 2020 and 2021. This event affected 22.12 hectares of mangrove forests, resulting in the loss of over 44,267 trees per hectare of Bruguiera cylindrica, a species with both ecological and cultural importance.
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Using a combination of field surveys, drone-based aerial assessments, and socio-ecological studies, the researchers linked the dieback to increased soil salinity, prolonged drought, and rising temperatures. The study also highlighted the influence of extreme climatic patterns, such as the Triple La Niña phenomenon and the positive Indian Ocean Dipole, contributing to abnormal weather fluctuations. Additionally, localised sea level changes further stressed the fragile coastal ecosystem through saline water intrusion into wetlands.
Mangroves play a critical role in the Maldives as carbon sinks and coastal buffers, but their vulnerability to climate change raises concerns for the nation and other low-lying island states facing similar threats. A socio-ecological survey in affected communities revealed that 89% of respondents attributed recent mangrove losses to mass dieback, with many expressing concerns over its impact on food security and traditional industries such as boat construction.As the Maldives remains at the forefront of global climate challenges, the study published in Springer underscores the urgent need for regional and international cooperation to mitigate environmental losses. Researchers and conservationists have called for stronger policy measures to prioritise mangrove conservation as a key adaptation strategy against climate-induced coastal threats.
