Press Release The Mangrove Breakthrough kicks off 2025 with crucial endorsement from Mexico’s government
Mexico’s Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources Alicia Bárcena Ibarra officially endorses the Mangrove Breakthrough.
Mexico City, 29 January 2025 - The Mangrove Breakthrough secured a key endorsement from the Government of Mexico this week, boosting the number of national and subnational governments backing the initiative to 36.
The endorsement comes at a critical moment in the buildup to UNFCCC COP30, with the Mangrove Breakthrough gaining significant momentum to fulfill its mission of mobilising USD 4 billion by 2030 to protect and restore 15 million hectares of mangroves around the world.
“For Mexico, the issue of mangrove conservation and restoration is an enormous priority,” said Mexico’s Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) Alicia Bárcena Ibarra. “I want you to know that you have the support of the Government of Mexico. Through SEMARNAT, we are very interested in participating and not only that, but in leading governmental actions, even with other sectors of the country.”
“This issue of mangroves and ecological management, and the National Restoration Program that we want to carry forward is transversal to the entire Government of Mexico,” she continued. “We are very committed to be able to achieve this goal of 15 million hectares of mangroves, that is, to conserve them, to restore these 400,000 hectares, at least 30% by 2030. We know that they are key ecosystems, that even for the compensation of greenhouse gases mangroves are six times more efficient than any other type of ecosystem and, therefore, it is so important that we can really move in this direction.”
Mexico is home to the fourth largest number of mangrove forests in the world, and second in Latin America and the Caribbean, spanning over 905,086 hectares. While roughly 76% of these ecosystems are under some form of conservation, the Global Mangrove Watch has found that the extent of mangroves in the country has decreased by over 44,000 hectares since 1996 with land-use change, coastal development, aquaculture, and climate change impacts driving losses.
“The endorsement is a sign of the movement that is happening in Mexico in favor of mangroves, from the communities that are the guardians of these ecosystems, reaching the highest levels of federal, state, and local government," said Pilar Jacobo, coordinator of the Global Mangrove Alliance’s National Chapter. “The Mexican Alliance for Ecosystem Restoration (AMERE) and GMA have been working on this for more than two years, and we are thrilled for what's next.”
“Mexico’s announcement today shows the country is serious about protecting these vital ecosystems and fulfilling its pledges to meet international targets,” said Carlos Correa, Ambassador for the Mangrove Breakthrough and Colombia’s former Minister of the Environment. “The endorsement is a reflection of the tremendous commitment so many people in this country have toward protecting and restoring mangrove forests and coastal ecosystems more broadly.”
The endorsement coincides with an in-person workshop, co-hosted by the GMA, Mexico Chapter of GMA, AMERE and Mangrove Breakthrough Hub, which has united governments representatives, researchers, NGOs, private sector and financial institutions to chart a clear path for mobilising vital finance to build a mangrove-positive pipeline in Mexico and beyond. The diverse stakeholders came together from all over Mexico and around the world, placing the resilience of local communities at the heart of mangrove restoration, conservation, and finance.
“We are leaving Mexico with a unified vision and a renewed commitment to fostering bold collaboration across various sectors,” said Ignace Beguin Billecocq, Executive Director of the Mangrove Breakthrough Hub. “The endorsement from the Government of Mexico is strong testament to the country's commitment for mangroves. It is a critical milestone as we set our sights on COP 30, and increasing capital flow for mangrove by then.”
Endorsements at this time are critical, with countries set to submit their renewed commitments to the Paris Agreement this year. The Mangrove Breakthrough’s NDC Task Force is working to provide technical support to countries to develop clear, science-based, and measurable mangrove targets, policies and measures in their NDCs.
About the Mangrove Breakthrough
The Mangrove Breakthrough was launched at COP27 as part of the Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda, building on the Breakthrough Agenda and the pioneering work of the Global Mangrove Alliance. Its mission is to provide a strategic global compass for the international community to drive concerted action on mangrove conservation and restoration through five critical pathways:
Developing a community of action
Bridging finance and project pipeline for on-the-ground action
Driving a systemic approach at global and landscape scales
Enhancing transparency and accountability across projects
Facilitating continuous learning and knowledge exchange about best practice mangrove restoration and conservation
Ambition Loop serves as the headquarters of the Mangrove Breakthrough Hub, supporting coordination and governance.
For Media Inquiries
Luis Rodríguez
Media Relations Coordinator
Mexico Chapter Global Mangrove Alliance
Sam Goodman
Communications Director, Mangrove Breakthrough
sam.goodman@ambitionloop.earth
+506 8833- 7435
Connor Nickerson Wheatley
Communications Manager, Climate and Ocean
Global Mangrove Alliance
+1 770-653-0422
