Angouru community is a beautiful village in South Malaita, Solomon Islands, where you see things are being taken care of. Life goes as it has always traditionally been for many generations although little changes can be seen. Little electricity is currently provided by solar panels as a novelty as we can see in houses here and there, however, cooking is still done by firewood stoves as the smoky kitchens indicate at houses around.

Lydia George, a member from the community, talks from the kitchen of one of these houses while cooking mangrove pods with coconut milk, a local delicacy: "Mangrove is one of our most important foods. And we utilise it also for building houses. From mangrove forest we get many other benefits like the mud crab that lives in there and it protects our village from storms when the waves get too high."

Lydia's plain and simple explanation is the epitome of mangroves importance. It underpins the livelihoods of coastal communities by providing timber, firewood, and food such as fish, shellfish, and the edible mangrove fruits themselves.

Mangroves are unique ecosystems between land and sea, thriving in salty environments where few other plants can survive. In Solomon Islands, mangroves cover approximately 60,000 hectares, representing three per cent of the nation's land area and hosting 40 per cent of the world's mangrove species. These ecosystems are more than just forests; they serve as nurseries for marine life, natural barriers against coastal erosion, and critical carbon sinks. Each hectare of mangroves can store up to 1,000 tonnes of carbon, making them key players in mitigating climate change.

In addition, mangroves filter pollutants, improving water quality, and their intricate root systems prevent seawater intrusion into freshwater ecosystems. However, these vital functions are currently under threat from climate change, rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and pressure by the increasing populations.

The Angouru Community Development Association (ACDA) in Small Malaita where Lydia lives is spearheading an ambitious Mangrove Conservation and Rehabilitation Project to address the urgent threats facing one of Solomon Islands' most vital ecosystems.

Supported by the Small Grants Programme of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), administered by UNDP with funding from the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), this initiative exemplifies the power of locally driven solutions in safeguarding biodiversity and enhancing community resilience.

Malaita Province, where 20 per cent of the coastline is fringed by mangroves, is particularly vulnerable to climate impacts. Rising sea levels are eroding mangrove forests, compromising their ability to protect communities and support marine biodiversity. Intensifying wave action further exacerbates the decline, threatening food security and the livelihoods of local populations such as the Angouru community.

In response to these challenges, ACDA has undertaken a comprehensive approach to mangrove conservation and rehabilitation. The project involves replanting mangroves in degraded areas and educating local communities about their ecological and economic importance. Project Coordinator Beven Aieile emphasises the role of mangroves as "lifelines for marine ecosystems and a source of nourishment for us all."