MANGROVE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD 2025 WINNERS ANNOUNCED

To mark the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem (World Mangrove Day), the Mangrove Action Project (MAP) has introduced the winners of the 2025 Mangrove Photography Awards. The announcement shines a highlight on the ecological significance of mangroves and the worldwide urgency to guard them.

Now in its eleventh yr, the official UN Decade exercise has grow to be a key platform for visible storytelling that raises consciousness about these important coastal forests. This yr’s contest drew a record-breaking 3,303 entries from 78 international locations, together with first-time submissions from Samoa, Yemen, and Dominica.

Mangroves, present in 125 international locations and territories, are ecological powerhouses. They can sequester as much as 5 instances extra carbon than terrestrial forests, defend greater than 15 million individuals from flooding, and assist hundreds of thousands of livelihoods. Yet, in line with MAP, 50% of the world’s mangrove ecosystems are prone to collapse by 2050, on account of pressures resembling city growth, deforestation, aquaculture, and sea-level rise.

The Mangrove Photography Awards present a compelling visible narrative of this disaster and the efforts to reverse it.

“By intriguing people about the important role mangroves play in everyone’s lives, we want to instill an emotional and deeper connection for people to take action.” – Leo Thom, MAP’s Creative Director and founding father of the awards.

Judged by specialists within the discipline who’re enthusiastic about merging pictures with storytelling, this yr’s panel contains Thai photojournalist and marine biologist Sirachai “Shin” Arunrugstichai; award-winning wildlife photographer Chien Lee; and underwater photographer, videographer, and shark naturalist Tanya Houppermans.

“These photographs will go a long way in educating the public about mangroves through the brilliant visual stories they tell and will hopefully inspire people to do what they can to save these critical habitats,” – Tanya Houppermans, underwater photographer, videographer, and shark naturalist.

The title of Mangrove Photographer of the Year went to avian ecologist, restoration scientist, and conservation photographer Mark Ian Cook for his aerial picture, ‘Birds’ Eye View of the Hunt’. The photograph captures Roseate Spoonbills gliding above a lemon shark looking mullet in Florida Bay — a deceptively serene picture that masks an pressing ecological story.

“Historically, Florida Bay was the primary nestling region of the Roseate Spoonbill in the US, but this species is becoming increasingly rare there as sea level rise negatively impacts their important mangrove foraging habitat. Spoonbills are tactile foragers, meaning they feed by touch. However, for this foraging method to be successful, the birds need relatively shallow water with very high densities of fish. This becomes particularly critical during the energetic bottleneck of the nesting season.” – Mark Ian Cook.

“With climate-change induced sea-level rise, these critical lower water depths in the mangroves are increasingly failing to be met, fish densities are insufficient for effective foraging, and fewer birds are able to breed.”

New to this yr’s version are subcategories throughout the Wildlife, Landscape, and People sections, providing photographers extra methods to showcase mangrove variety. Two new regional prizes — the Emirates Award and Arabian Gulf Award — have been additionally launched in collaboration with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, recognising conservation efforts within the United Arab Emirates and Gulf area.

“One of the most impressive aspects of this year’s competition is the remarkable diversity of images and shooting styles among the submissions. Although an often-overlooked ecosystem, these images show that mangroves not only hold a wealth of fascinating stories about the lives of people and animals that are inextricably connected with this habitat, but that mangroves also contain great beauty.” – Judge Chien Lee, an award-winning wildlife photographer.

In addition to the general winner, awards got throughout six classes: People, Landscape, Underwater, Threats, Wildlife, and Conservation Stories — alongside recognition for the Young Mangrove Photographer of the Year. Each picture helps construct world consciousness concerning the crucial have to preserve mangrove forests.

All profitable pictures and tales can be found to view at www.photography.mangroveactionproject.org/winners/winners-2025