Brazil's Mangrove Changes: 2000 to 2020

Mangroves around the world are disappearing, and the reasons vary based on local conditions and policies. Brazil, one of the countries with the most mangroves, hasn't done a thorough job of figuring out exactly what's causing these changes. Researchers here took a look at how mangroves in Brazil transformed from 2000 to 2020. They focused on the direct replacement of mangroves by 21 different types of land use and cover.

Using data from the MapBiomas project, they found that Brazil lost around 3429 square kilometers of mangroves. But surprisingly, they also gained back 6776 square kilometers. Most of the lost mangroves turned into forests or water bodies, which could be natural changes or indirect human impacts. Only 4% of the direct mangrove conversions were due to creating pastures. The researchers noticed that the changes varied a lot from one state to another and from one region to another. These differences also showed up when comparing Brazil to other countries. This means that mangrove conservation needs to consider these local differences. To help, the team created an interactive map for managers, policymakers, and environmental groups to understand what's driving these changes.

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