Friday, July 23, 2010

World Atlas of Mangroves Published

A significant step forward in the global assessment blue carbon ecosystems. Congrats to the authors. The following is reprinted from the Mangrove Discussion List:

Dear members of mangrove discussion list,

I am pleased to inform you that the World Atlas of Mangroves has just been published by Earthscan through a joint initiative of ITTO (funding agency), ISME (implementing agency), FAO, UNEP-WCMC, UNESCO-MAB, UNU-INWEH and TNC with kind contributions and inputs from more than 100 top mangrove researchers and organizations around the world. Authors are Mark Spalding (lead author), Mami Kainuma and Lorna Collins and map preparation was lead by FAO and UNEP-WCMC.

The book contains 129 maps (65-full maps) and country-by-country assessment of mangroves with over 200 photographs, 50 line drawings and numbers of tables including new mangrove area statistics. The initial 3 chapters provide a global view, with information on distribution, biogeography, productivities, wider ecology, as well as on human uses, economic values, threat and approaches for mangrove management, and mangrove mappings. These themes are revisited throughout the 10 regional chapters where maps provide a spatial context or starting point. Also, case studies written by regional experts provide insights into regional mangrove issues, usage, and sustainable management. Three Annexes provide species range maps with line drawings, national species lists and national statistics.

The book is targeted to a wide readership including mangrove researchers, students, conservation organizations, decision makers, policy makers and local communities, and can be used for the baseline of the further and future mangrove gain/loss assessment.

For more and detailed information, please visit ISME website at http://www.glomis.com/; or http://www.isme.or.jp/ or visit Earthscan at http://www.earthscan.co.uk/isbn/9781844076574.

French and Spanish versions of the Atlas and a Policy Brief, a summary of the Atlas, are being prepared.

Thank you for your attention.

Best wishes,

Mami Kainuma, PhD, Project Coordinator, World Atlas of Mangroves