Bogotá, 26 October 2026 — Colombia is at a pivotal moment to protect and restore its mangroves, according to the new report “Mobilizing the Mangrove Breakthrough in Colombia”, developed by the Global Mangrove Alliance and the Mangrove Breakthrough. 

Despite ongoing pressure on mangroves from coastal development, land-use change, erosion, pollution, and resource extraction, Colombia has increased its overall mangrove extent by nearly 20,000 hectares since 1985.

Published as the world meets in Armenia for the Convention on Biological Diversity COP17 to accelerate action on nature, the new report outlines the opportunity for Colombia to build on this momentum and benefit from further scaling up mangrove conservation. It finds that Colombia has around 10,270 hectares of mangrove restoration potential and achieving 50% of that by 2030 is highly feasible. 

Colombia’s mangroves cover almost 3,000 km² along over 3,800 km of its Pacific (72.7%) and Caribbean (27.3%) coasts. They are the tallest mangroves in the world and valuable natural assets, storing carbon, supporting biodiversity and fisheries, and protecting coastal communities from erosion, flooding, and storms. They also support fisheries and livelihoods for coastal and Indigenous communities with generations of knowledge and experience in managing these ecosystems. 

Ongoing mangrove loss despite protection policies

Colombia has already surpassed the global 30×30 target for mangrove protection, with more than 42% of its mangroves located within protected areas. Nonetheless, strengthening protection in underrepresented regions such as San Andrés and Providencia, Darién–Tacarcuna and Micay would contribute to doubling effective protection coverage. 

Indigenous and Afro-descendant territories and community organisations already play a critical role in protecting and managing mangrove ecosystems, which represents a major opportunity to enhance equitable, locally led conservation.

Government commitments under its NDC and the Climate Action Law include restoring 3,000 hectares by 2030. Between 2002 and 2024, 967 hectares have already been restored by the government, complemented by ongoing efforts led by NGOs and community partners and large-scale programs such as Biomanglar. 

The country’s restoration needs are well understood, with hydrological disruption, erosion, and overexploitation identified as priority drivers to address. The existence of a national restoration guide, standardized monitoring protocols, and the country’s long-term research and technical leadership further strengthens implementation capacity. A significant injection of funding could be sufficient for Colombian-led initiatives to exceed their current targets.

Despite this progress, mangrove forests in Colombia continue to face significant threats. Road construction projects have altered hydrological systems, particularly on the Caribbean coast, which causes erosion and mangrove mortality. Agricultural conversion for cattle, buffalo, coconut, banana, and shrimp farming continues to reduce mangrove cover, while traditional extraction of mangrove timber and firewood has altered forest composition, promoting invasive ferns that inhibit natural regeneration. 

Pollution, including plastics and industrial waste, has accumulated in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Cispatá Bay, and the San Andrés Archipelago, further undermining mangrove resilience.

Significant financing opportunities

Colombia has significant potential to attract new investment for mangrove protection and restoration. The national Fund for Life and Biodiversity, blended-finance initiatives and growing interest in blue carbon provide a strong foundation for scaling finance. 

Looking ahead, the report identifies several priorities for turning these foundations into action. While the legal and institutional foundations for mangrove management are robust, implementation remains fragmented. Stronger coordination across government, communities, civil society, research institutions and the private sector and across regions is needed, alongside better monitoring, data on mangrove carbon storage and scientific knowledge to guide investment and measure impact.

Community leadership must remain at the heart of this effort. Recognising local and Indigenous knowledge, strengthening land-tenure and benefit-sharing arrangements, and ensuring that conservation supports sustainable livelihoods will be essential to delivering lasting results.

Greater clarity around carbon rights and investment rules, alongside improved carbon accounting, could help unlock high-integrity blue carbon finance and results-based climate funding. New approaches such as payments for ecosystem services and sustainable bioeconomy opportunities could also create additional income for coastal communities while reducing pressure on mangroves

About the Report
Mobilizing the Mangrove Breakthrough in Colombia is part of the Mobilizing the Mangrove Breakthrough in the Americas Regional Report. Coordinated by Wetlands International and Conservation International. it assesses Colombia’s mangrove ecosystems, enabling policy and institutional conditions, financing landscape and opportunities to accelerate progress towards the Mangrove Breakthrough targets. Download the report: 

About the Mangrove Breakthrough

The Mangrove Breakthrough is a global movement to value, finance, and safeguard mangroves. The ambition is to mobilize USD 4 billion to protect and restore 15 million hectares of mangroves by 2030, fostering radical collaboration, advancing science-based financial and regulatory decisions, and investing in local leadership.

Media Contact:
Luis Alonso Zapata Padilla, World Wildlife Fund Colombia, [email protected]