Mangrove forests provide critical benefits for both people and the planet, particularly in the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia, where they protect coastal communities from storm surges, support livelihoods, and store significant amounts of carbon making them vital in addressing global warming. Despite their high ecological and economic value, estimated at USD 33,000 to 57,000 per hectare annually, mangroves are being rapidly lost due to unregulated development and weak tenure rights, which reduce incentives for local communities to protect them. This degradation leads to loss of livelihoods, increased migration and food insecurity, and the release of stored carbon, further exacerbating climate change.
Landesa works with governments across the Indian Ocean region, from East Africa to Southeast Asia, to protect 40% of the worlds mangrove forests by securing land and tenure rights for coastal communities. By strengthening community stewardship and addressing policy and governance gaps, its work supports the livelihoods of over 70 million people while safeguarding more than 900 million tons of carbon stored in mangrove ecosystems.
LGT Venture Philanthropy partners with Landesa on its Coastal Livelihoods and Mangroves Project providing core funding to help scale the initiative in nine countries in East Africa, South and Southeast Asia: Kenya, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.
Our engagement covers three areas of work:
Mangrove forests are vital for millions in South and Southeast Asia, providing food, shelter, and livelihoods. Strengthening tenure rights empowers communities to protect these ecosystems while ensuring lasting economic benefits. With LGT VP's support, Landesa advances policy change and land governance to improve outcomes for people and the planet.
