Atlas · Algeria / Knowledge Base
With data in Atlas
Angolafull · 18 datasets Beninfull · 14 datasets Cameroonfull · 47 datasets Comorosfull · 16 datasets Côte d'Ivoirefull · 14 datasets Democratic Republic of the Congofull · 44 datasets Djiboutifull · 15 datasets Egyptfull · 18 datasets Equatorial Guineafull · 13 datasets Eritreafull · 15 datasets Gabonfull · 28 datasets Ghanafull · 16 datasets Guineafull · 15 datasets Guinea-Bissaufull · 14 datasets Kenyafull · 344 datasets Liberiafull · 13 datasets Madagascarfull · 18 datasets Mauritaniafull · 16 datasets Mauritiusfull · 9 datasets Mozambiquefull · 35 datasets Nigeriafull · 16 datasets Republic of the Congofull · 41 datasets Senegalfull · 15 datasets Seychellesfull · 9 datasets Sierra Leonefull · 14 datasets Somaliafull · 13 datasets South Africafull · 26 datasets Sudanfull · 16 datasets São Tomé and Principefull · 14 datasets Tanzaniafull · 170 datasets The Gambiafull · 14 datasets Togofull · 15 datasets Algeriareference · 5 datasets Botswanareference · 32 datasets Burkina Fasoreference · 2 datasets Burundireference · 2 datasets Central African Republicreference · 2 datasets Chadreference · 2 datasets Ethiopiareference · 2 datasets Kingdom of eSwatinireference · 1 datasets Lesothoreference · 2 datasets Libyareference · 3 datasets Malawireference · 2 datasets Malireference · 2 datasets Moroccoreference · 6 datasets Namibiareference · 56 datasets Nigerreference · 1 datasets Republic of Cabo Verdereference · 1 datasets Rwandareference · 7 datasets South Sudanreference · 1 datasets Tunisiareference · 3 datasets Ugandareference · 29 datasets Western Saharareference · 1 datasets Zambiareference · 54 datasets Zimbabwereference · 31 datasets
Compare all countries
KNOWLEDGE BASE

What destroys mangroves

Clearing for farms, shrimp ponds and development, over-harvesting, pollution, damming and rising seas.

All knowledge base Ask the analyst about this
Beginner 1 min read threatsdeforestationaquacultureinfrastructureclimate

Globally, mangroves are lost mainly to direct human clearing, with natural causes adding to it.

Human drivers

  1. Aquaculture, especially shrimp ponds, and agriculture such as rice and oil palm.
  2. Wood and charcoal: poles, firewood, charcoal, and tannin.
  3. Coastal development: ports, roads, housing, salt pans and tourism.
  4. Pollution: oil spills (a major issue in the Niger Delta), plastics, and sewage.
  5. Altered water flow: dams upstream cut off sediment; causeways block tides.

Natural and climate drivers

  • Storms such as cyclones in the Indian Ocean.
  • Erosion and sea-level rise, where mangrove cannot move inland.
  • Drought and hypersalinity in dry regions.

What the Atlas maps can and cannot show. They show where area changed, which is the first step. They do not tell why. To find causes, overlay pressure layers (the roads, port and village layers that exist for Lamu), check satellite images and talk to local people.

Limits. Atlas does not yet hold nationwide layers for aquaculture, farming or oil.

Related reading

LAPSSET: why a corridor project matters to mangroves

LAPSSET is a transport and port corridor centred on Lamu; Atlas measures how much mangrove lies near it.

Sea-level rise and the "coastal squeeze"

Mangroves can keep up with moderate sea-level rise if they get sediment and room to move inland.

West and Central African mangroves

West Africa holds more than half of Africa's mangrove, anchored by the Niger Delta and the Guinea coast.

More in Knowledge Base

Still have a question?

The AI analyst answers from these articles and from the data.

Ask Atlas
Guest preview · 125s left Explore until the timer ends. Then you’ll be asked to log in or create an account (about two minutes) to keep going.
Log in Create an account
Ask Atlas