To mark the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem (World Mangrove Day), the Mangrove Action Project (MAP) has announced the winners of the 2025 Mangrove Photography Awards. The announcement shines a spotlight on the ecological importance of mangroves and the global urgency to protect them.

Now in its 11th year, the official UN Decade activity has become a key platform for visual storytelling that raises awareness about these essential coastal forests. This year’s contest drew a record-breaking 3,303 entries from 78 countries, including first-time submissions from Samoa, Yemen, and Dominica.

Mangroves, found in 125 countries and territories, are ecological powerhouses. They can sequester up to five times more carbon than terrestrial forests, protect more than 15 million people from flooding, and support millions of livelihoods. Yet, according to MAP, 50% of the world’s mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse by 2050, due to pressures such as urban development, deforestation, aquaculture, and sea-level rise.

The Mangrove Photography Awards provide a compelling visual narrative of this crisis 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 founder of the awards.

Judged by experts in the field who are passionate about merging photography with storytelling, this year’s panel includes 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 image, ‘Birds’ Eye View of the Hunt’. The photo captures Roseate Spoonbills gliding above a lemon shark hunting mullet in Florida Bay — a deceptively serene image that masks an urgent 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 year’s edition are subcategories across the Wildlife, Landscape, and People sections, offering photographers more ways to showcase mangrove diversity. Two new regional prizes — the Emirates Award and Arabian Gulf Award — were also introduced in collaboration with the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, recognising conservation efforts in the United Arab Emirates and Gulf region.

“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 overall winner, awards were given across six categories: People, Landscape, Underwater, Threats, Wildlife, and Conservation Stories — alongside recognition for the Young Mangrove Photographer of the Year. Each image helps build global awareness about the critical need to conserve mangrove forests.

All winning photographs and stories are available to view at www.photography.mangroveactionproject.org/winners/winners-2025