Forests that hold carbon and block waves... Why the world is paying attention to mangroves. * Posted 2026.07.24. * 18:52 Stores an average of 1,000 tons of carbon per hectare... Contributing to coastal disaster prevention and biodiversity. Green Foundation and WWF unveil conservation achievements and plans on World Mangrove Day. The upcoming 26th is the UNESCO-designated 'International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems.' As the climate crisis intensifies, mangroves are garnering attention as a blue carbon ecosystem that stores carbon and as a nature-based solution for mitigating coastal disasters. While countries around the world are utilizing mangrove conservation and restoration in their climate and biodiversity policies, related activities are also continuing in Korea, led by the government, corporations, and environmental organizations. Mangroves are a representative blue carbon ecosystem that stores an average of about 1,000 tons of carbon per hectare. These trees and shrubs grow along tropical and subtropical coasts where seawater flows in and out, and their dense roots hold onto fallen leaves, organic matter, and sediment. In waterlogged soils with low oxygen levels, the decomposition of organic matter is slow, allowing carbon to accumulate over a long period. This explains why they exhibit such high carbon storage capacity, despite accounting for less than 1% of the world's tropical forest area. The intricately intertwined roots reduce the force of waves and currents and prevent sediment from being swept away. In a sense, they act as a 'natural breakwater' protecting the coast from typhoons, storm surges, and rising sea levels. The spaces between the roots serve as spawning grounds and growth areas for young fish and crustaceans, while providing a livelihood base for coastal residents who depend on mangroves for fishing and aquaculture. UNESCO designated July 26, 2015, as the International Day of Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems to raise awareness of these ecological values and to promote conservation and restoration. Mangroves are known to be disappearing at a rate 3 to 5 times faster than forests worldwide. From climate policy to private sector projects... The spreading mangrove restoration. Mangroves are being utilized in climate and coastal policies and private restoration projects in various countries, as they can simultaneously promote carbon reduction, climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and the restoration of residents' livelihoods. Indonesia, home to the world's largest mangrove forest, established a national goal in 2020 to restore 600,000 hectares of damaged mangroves by 2024. Various government ministries, the private sector, and civil society participated in jointly promoting the restoration of damaged areas, the preservation of existing forests, and the improvement of livelihoods for coastal residents. While challenges remained regarding whether the goal could be achieved and the methods of restoration, this serves as an example demonstrating the trend of mangroves being incorporated into national-level climate and coastal policies. The World Bank introduced this as the world's largest mangrove restoration goal at the time. There have also been movements to link individual national efforts to common international goals. A prime example is the international initiative "Mangrove Breakthrough," launched at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in 2022. With the participation of governments, financial institutions, corporations, and environmental groups, the initiative set a goal to protect and restore 15 million hectares of mangroves worldwide by 2030 and to mobilize $4 billion in funding for this purpose. The core of the initiative is to internationally connect the policies and financial resources necessary for conservation and restoration. The Korean government and companies are also participating in overseas mangrove restoration. The Korea Forest Service and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries invested 4.5 billion won from 2020 to 2024 to restore 330 hectares of mangrove forests in Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh provinces in Vietnam. By simultaneously promoting the establishment of nurseries, capacity building for local residents, and technical support for aquaculture, they linked forest restoration with income improvement for coastal residents. SK Innovation has been pursuing restoration projects centered on Vietnam since 2018 and plans to expand the cumulative restoration area in Vietnam to 470 hectares by 2030. Hyundai Motor Company is establishing mangrove forests in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Good Neighbors. POSCO International has also been planting mangrove saplings near Jakarta, Indonesia, since 2019. Green Foundation and WWF share conservation achievements and plans on mangrove Day. Ahead of the International Day of Mangrove Conservation, domestic environmental groups have also stepped forward to raise awareness of the importance of mangroves by unveiling existing restoration achievements and new conservation plans. The Korea Green Foundation, which has been carrying out mangrove restoration activities in Asia since 2015, has unveiled the results of a community-participatory project conducted on Pari Island in Indonesia. In collaboration with the local environmental organization Indonesia Environment Forum, the Foundation provided training to residents and youth on planting, growth management, and monitoring, and planted 7,000 mangrove trees across 0.7 hectares of damaged land at Lenge Beach on Pari Island last May. Since June, a resident monitoring team has been regularly checking the growth status. To date, the Korea Green Foundation has planted approximately 645,000 mangrove trees in the Asian region. Lee Mi-kyung, President of the Korea Green Foundation, stated, "Mangroves are effective carbon sinks and a key ecosystem that sustains the livelihoods of coastal residents," adding, "This project is highly significant in that local residents stepped forward as the agents of restoration to establish a foundation for sustainable management." Marking the International Day of Conservation for Mangrove Ecosystems, WWF announced a conservation plan for *Hwanggeun*, a semi-mangrove species native to Jeju. WWF has established a conservation network with the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, and the National Institute of Forest Science's Subtropical and Tropical Forest Research Center. On the 21st, they toured a natural habitat of *Hwanggeun* in the area of Siksambong, Seongsan-eup, Jeju, to discuss future cooperation directions. The plan is to integrate the conservation of the *Hwanggeun* habitat with existing Jeju coastal cleanup and sea turtle monitoring initiatives. Park Min-hye, Secretary General of WWF Korea, stated, "Although Hwanggeun, a native Korean semi-mangrove, is still unfamiliar to many people, it is an important nature-based solution for maintaining healthy coastal ecosystems and responding to the climate crisis," adding, "We will scientifically examine the ecological value of semi-mangrove forests and continuously expand conservation activities." Chae Ye-bin, reporter for The Better Future Copyrights c The Better Future & futurechosun.com Better Future Special Feature Top News >

DoubleTree Resort celebrates World Mangrove Day through community. Nadi, Fiji - 24 July 2026 - In celebration of World Mangrove Day (26 July) and the continued partnership between the Hilton Global Foundation and the World Wildlife Fund, DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Fiji - Sonaisali Island brought together team members, resort guests and WWF representatives for a morning of mangrove restoration, environmental education and conservation along the resort's coastline. Approximately 15 participants joined the initiative, learning firsthand about the vital role mangroves play in protecting Fiji's fragile coastal ecosystems before helping prepare a site for mangrove restoration and then re-planting approximately 200 mangrove seedlings as part of the resort's ongoing efforts to engage guests and team members in environmental and community initiatives. The morning concluded with fresh green coconuts, providing an opportunity for guests and team members to connect while celebrating their contribution to the environment. The activity coincides with the Hilton Global Foundation's (HGF) recent commitment of US$5.4 million to 18 nonprofit organisations globally - its largest annual investment to date - supporting initiatives that expand career opportunities, strengthen community resilience and help make the world a better place to travel. As Hilton's global philanthropic arm, HGF supports programmes aligned with Travel with Purpose, Hilton's strategy to drive positive impact and create lasting value for its people, hotels, communities and guests. In Fiji, HGF is supporting WWF's mangrove restoration programme in Fiji, which is working with iTaukei (Indigenous Fijian) communities to restore eight hecatres (19.7 acres) of mangroves across two sites within the Great Sea Reef - the Ba River Estuary and the Yasawa Islands. As one of the world's longest barrier reef systems, the Great Sea Reef is central to Fiji's blue economy, supporting fisheries, tourism, biodiversity, and the cultural heritage of coastal communities. Mangroves are among the world's most valuable coastal ecosystems, providing natural protection against storm surges and coastal erosion, improving water quality, storing significant amounts of carbon and creating essential nursery habitats for fish, crabs and marine life. In Fiji, they also play an important role in supporting local livelihoods, preserving cultural traditions and strengthening climate resilience for coastal communities. "This was a wonderful opportunity to bring our guests and team members together to learn more about Fiji's incredible natural environment while making a meaningful contribution," said Shanaka Perera, General Manager, DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Fiji. "As an island resort, we recognise the responsibility we have to help protect the ecosystems that make Fiji so unique. Through initiatives supported by Hilton Global Foundation and WWF's conservation efforts in Fiji, we're proud to provide opportunities for our guests and team members to engage with and learn more about protecting these important ecosystems." WWF's programme extends beyond restoration, supporting long-term community capacity through ecological restoration training, locally managed mangrove nurseries, and community-led stewardship initiatives designed to support sustainable livelihoods. The mangrove restoration forms part of DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Fiji's CARE Committee initiatives, which encourage team members and guests to participate in activities that create a positive environmental and social impact within the local community. As World Mangrove Day is celebrated globally on 26 July, the resort hopes the event inspires more travellers and local communities to appreciate the importance of protecting these remarkable coastal forests.

The story behind the cards: Life TCG. Posted on 6/11/2026 The end goal of this clever card game is to raise awareness of the struggling wild animal populations around the world. Trading card games are often produced to promote or capitalize on a popular intellectual property, such as an anime or video game. Others are created to raise awareness of a specific campaign or ongoing issue happening in the world. One of these TCGs is the Life TCG - a trading card game dedicated to raising awareness about the status and conservation of many mammal and aquatic animal species around the world. | Click images to enlarge. | About the Life TCG. There are millions of documented species on Earth, including insects, fish, birds, mammals, plants, and more. Out of those millions, only a few thousand of them are classified as mammals. What's more, only 4% of those animals are classified as wild animals - and many are endangered. The Life TCG was created to raise awareness of this imbalance through a tangible card game. To reflect the imbalance, the Life TCG doesn't assign traditional rarities to their cards. Instead, each 1st edition holographic card has a set print number that is directly linked to an animal's estimated population. For example, there are only an estimated 10,000 red pandas left in the wild (as of 2023, when the card was released). Because of this, the Life TCG only printed 10,000 Red Panda cards. Additionally, the Life TCG has vowed to not reprint or produce more 1st edition holographic cards after the initial print run, so there will only ever be 10,000 copies of Red Panda in circulation. | Click images to enlarge. | Additionally, the Life TCG has produced several 1/1 cards based on continents. These cards are full art holographic cards based on the seven major continents on Earth - South America, North America, Africa, Europe, Oceania, Asia, and Antarctica - and one 1/1 card based on Earth itself. The 1/1 print run reinforces the idea that there is only one planet, driving home the importance of the land's conservation. To further promote its mission and dedication to wildlife preservation, the creators of the Life TCG have partnered with the World Wildlife Fund, a charity dedicated to using proven science to reduce threats to animals and wildlife. The foundation works to conserve and restore biodiversity and ensure sustainable use of natural resources to support healthy living. Since its release in 2023, the Life TCG has released two major sets - Mammals and Birds. CGC has certified more than 190 cards across all sets, including promotional cards, according to the CGC Cards Population Report. How to play. The Life TCG doesn't have a health point or combat-like playstyle. Instead, each animal has four stats: Weight, Speed, Lifespan, and Population. It's a simple game of "best stats win," - when two animals are pitted against each other in play, the one who has the highest stats overall wins. As players pit animals against each other, the winner keeps their cards, while the loser must discard their spent cards. Whoever still has cards left in their hand by the end of the game wins. Interestingly, the Life TCG offers extra rules for those who want a challenge. For example, players can compete based on card rarity - if they play the same animal, the one with the higher card rarity (such as a 1st Edition Holographic version of the card) wins. Also, if someone plays the Earth card, it is an automatic win for that player. | Click images to enlarge. | To learn more about the Life TCG and how to get started playing, go here to visit their website. The official website also has a full list of cards and products available for interested collectors. Then, when you're finished playing - or building your Life TCG collection - consider sending your cards to CGC for expert authentication, grading, and encapsulation. Go here to learn how to submit. About CGC. Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games, and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for sports cards, TCGs, and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation, and more. CGC Home Video provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes, DVD, Blu-ray, and more. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services. CGC is part of the Certified Collectibles Group, a global provider of expert and impartial authentication and grading services for collectibles. Since 1987, the Certified Collectibles Group companies have certified more than 110 million collectibles, including coins, banknotes, comic books, cards, autographs, and stamps.