The Global Value of Mangroves for Risk Reduction Technical Report
This technical report assesses the global value of mangroves for reducing coastal flood risk. Using hydrodynamic and economic modeling, it quantifies how mangroves lower wave energy, storm surge, and flooding, protecting millions of people and billions in property while strengthening coastal resilience.
Subject Tags
- Mangroves
- Nature-based solutions
- Coastal
Introduction
The Global Value of Mangroves for Risk Reduction is a comprehensive technical report examining how mangrove ecosystems protect coastlines from flooding, erosion, and storm surge at a global scale. Using high‑resolution hydrodynamic modeling and economic damage assessments, the study quantifies the flood risk reduction services provided by mangroves by comparing scenarios with and without mangrove coverage. Results show that mangroves significantly reduce annual flooding, protect more than 18 million people each year, and prevent tens of billions of dollars in property damage. The report highlights where mangroves deliver the greatest benefits, particularly in highly populated and vulnerable coastal regions, and demonstrates their importance as natural infrastructure for disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and sustainable development planning.
Other Resources
The Global Value of Mangroves for Risk Reduction Summary Report
Citation
Beck, M. W., Narayan, S., Trespalacios, D., Pfliegner, K., Losada, I. J., Menéndez, P., ... & Kirch, L. (2018). The global value of mangroves for risk reduction. Technical Report. The Nature Conservancy. doi, 10, V9930RBC.
TNC Authors
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Michael Beck
The Nature Conservancy -
D. Trespalacios
The Nature Conservancy -
K. Pfliegner
The Nature Conservancy