Indian Ocean Mangrove Restoration

At this stage, these seedlings had already used up most of what the parent tree packed into the propagule to get them started. The few pairs of leaves now open were the first ones built entirely from the plant's own photosynthesis marking the point where it will continue to grow

These mangrove seedlings, planted in 2024, made it through the hardest part already. The first year is when young mangroves are most likely to get uprooted by tides and currents before their roots can anchor firmly. Standing upright and leafed out like this means they got past the

Most mangrove monitoring happens on foot, at low tide, moving row by row through the mud. Walking the site lets the team spot stress signs early: yellowing leaves, exposed roots, or seedlings knocked over by tidal flow, issues that satellite imagery alone won't catch. It's slow,

Monitoring a mangrove site means reading the mud as much as the trees. This stand shows seedlings at clearly different growth stages, some just past establishment, others already forming canopy, evidence of how survival and growth vary even within the same planting area.

Field

Past the fragile seedling stage, these young mangroves are now anchoring soil and expanding their root networks with each tidal cycle.

Combining native mangrove varieties to restore natural structure, protect shorelines, and rebuild marine habitats — each species chosen for its ability to anchor sediment, tolerate shifting salinity, and create shelter for fish, crabs, and other coastal life.

Mangrove seeds—known as propagules—are pretty unique. 🌱
Instead of falling to the ground like most seeds, they sprout while still attached to the tree. Once they drop, they can float for weeks until they find the right spot to take root along the coast. That’s how mangroves slowly

Planting in mangrove ecosystems isn’t easy.

It often means trekking through thick, muddy paths to reach the right spots.

But placing propagules in these areas ensures they get the moisture they need to grow strong and healthy.

Our planters collect mangrove seedlings and plant them directly in the soil, mimicking their natural process while expanding their reach. This approach helps restore as much of the lost mangrove forest as possible.

A glimpse into the muddy, hands-on work of planting mangroves.