In Coastal Ecuador, the survival of the mangrove forests depends on the red crabs that make their homes in the trees’ tangled roots. Crabs shred and bury the mangrove trees’ fallen, decaying leaves in their burrows, aerating and enriching the soil with vital nutrients, and ensuring the mangrove forests thrive.
No matter where we live, mangrove forests are essential to the survival of life on land and at sea. Mangroves are a safe home for roughly one-third of all marine species, providing nurseries and feeding grounds for vital marine wildlife such as sharks, manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, rays, reptiles, and birds. Mangroves are carbon-storage powerhouses that absorb ten times more carbon per acre than tropical forests. On top of that, they support the livelihoods of millions of coastal families worldwide.
The situation is urgent. More than a third of all mangroves globally have been destroyed in the past 20 years, and scientists predict these vital ecosystems could all but disappear in the next 100 years. This is where WildAid comes in. We are fighting to safeguard 35% of Earth's remaining mangroves. And you can help.
Across Coastal Ecuador, local fishermen depend on the mangroves to feed their families and make a living. For generations, they have been fishing for crab in these mangrove channels in a way that doesn't harm the environment. In 2019, Ecuador's government gave these fishermen exclusive rights to fish for crabs in defined areas of the mangrove channels. In return, the fishermen committed to protect the mangrove ecosystem, including the red crabs.
During mating season, the red crabs of Coastal Ecuador emerge from their burrows in the muddy mangrove roots to reproduce. They are especially vulnerable to capture when they are out and about searching for a mate. In response, the government of Ecuador established a month-long fishing ban to protect the crabs and allow them to mate and reproduce safely.
But local fishermen want to take this protection even further. Experience has taught them crab mating season happens at different times of the year. To better protect them, the fishermen want to inform authorities when the crabs begin their mating dance and then voluntarily stop fishing during this vulnerable time. This way, they can ensure the crabs have a safe mating season, and their population can remain healthy for the future.
WildAid strengthens the fishermen’s role in conservation in the mangroves by brokering collaboration between the crab fishers, government agencies, and law enforcement. The boats we donated are used by the crabbers to effectively surveil and safeguard the mangrove channels. Their communities have used the boats for emergencies when injured people or pregnant women needed transport to the city for medical care. WildAid has provided training to both fishermen and law enforcement officials in surveillance techniques and marine enforcement operations.
Momentum is growing, and our shared efforts are paying off. More and more fishermen are getting involved in training, mangrove conservation, and protection of the red crabs. The fishermen tell us illegal logging, shrimp farming, and fishing in the mangroves have decreased.
When you donate to WildAid, you support an expanding network of local fishermen and coastal communities dedicated to protecting the mangrove forests and all the life that depends on them. Make your gift by this Saturday and it will be TRIPLED in value. I invite you to stand with WildAid and with dedicated local fishermen in Ecuador and beyond.
Yours for the wild,
Meaghan Brosnan
Chief Executive Officer
P.S. Join us this Thursday, June 6th, for our livestream, WildAid Live – World Oceans Day. Register today, and you'll hear about the media campaigns and marine protection initiatives that are turning the tide for marine life and habitats worldwide.
Small But Mighty Agents of Change. WildAid's Mission is to inspire and empower the world to protect wildlife and vital habitats from critical threats.
