Mangroves Biodiversity & Ecosystem

Mangroves Biodiversity & Ecosystem

Short course

Online

2 hours

Free

About this course

The open-access Mangroves Course raises awareness of mangroves’ vital role in ecosystems and communities while building expertise in their biology, ecology, assessment, management, and restoration. Designed for young academics, professionals, and managers—especially from developing countries—the course allows participants to build capacity without taking leave.

With few universities offering comprehensive mangrove curricula, this course fills a critical gap by:

Training future researchers and practitioners
Encouraging more studies on mangrove ecosystems
Equipping professors and specialists to bridge knowledge gaps
Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge-sharing

Through this course, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of mangrove ecosystems, including their biodiversity, ecological functions, and importance for coastal resilience. You will explore key topics such as ecosystem dynamics, floral and faunal diversity, climate change mitigation, and the role of mangroves in coastal defense and human livelihoods. The course also covers practical aspects of mangrove restoration, economic valuation for conservation, and relevant policies and international agreements. Designed for young professionals, academics, and managers, this course provides essential knowledge and skills to support mangrove conservation and sustainable management.

Unit 1: Introduction to Mangroves
Provides an overview of mangrove evolution, distribution, ecological importance, and global threats, laying the foundation for later units.

Unit 2: Ecosystem Structure & Function
Explores mangrove forest types, productivity, biomass, and food web dynamics, highlighting their role in interconnected ecosystems.

Unit 3: Floral Diversity
Covers mangrove vegetation, including true mangrove species and associated flora, with an introduction to plant taxonomy for species identification.

Unit 4: Faunal Diversity
Examines the diverse animal life in mangroves and its significance for ecosystem health and human communities.

Unit 5: Mangroves and Climate Change
Discusses climate change impacts, the role of mangroves in mitigation, and strategies for long-term conservation.

Unit 6: Mangroves and Coastal Defense
Explores how mangroves reduce disaster risks such as storm surges and sea-level rise, providing protection for coastal communities.

Unit 7: Mangroves and People
Highlights the historical and cultural connections between mangroves and communities, focusing on ecosystem services and indigenous reliance.

Unit 8: Mangrove Restoration and Afforestation
Introduces restoration techniques, key considerations for rehabilitation, and case studies on success and failure.

Unit 9: Economic Valuation for Conservation
Explains methods to assess the economic value of mangrove ecosystem services to support policy and decision-making.

Unit 10: Policies, Laws & Agreements
Covers national and international policies affecting mangrove conservation, their limitations, and the need for stronger policy coordination.

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