12 Eye-Opening Winning Images Of The 2024 Mangrove Photography Awards

For the 10th year in a row, The Mangrove Photography Awards, hosted by the Mangrove Action Project, are spreading awareness about mangroves' importance to various species and to us humans as well.

"Every year, we’re inspired by the incredible submissions, which help raise awareness of the people and wildlife that rely on mangrove forests, the threats they face, and why urgent action is needed to protect them," wrote the organizers on their site.

So today, we would like to present you with this year's winners, runner-ups, and highly commended entries. Hopefully, these photos will inspire you to learn more about mangroves and their importance to our world and maybe even try to help preserve them.

Take a look at the winners of 2023.
More info: photography.mangroveactionproject.org | Instagram

12 PHOTOS

#1 "Friends At The Edge" By Jillian Morris, Bahamas

Mangroves and Underwater category, Highly Commended.

Jillian Morris spies two juvenile lemon sharks in the Bahamas

“These juvenile lemon sharks were cruising in a deeper pocket at the edge of the mangrove forest. They can still seek refuge but are spending more time away from the nursery habitat as they get older and bigger.

“This species is also social, especially when they are young. They are often seen seeking refuge, hunting, or resting together.”

#2 "Morelet's Reflection" By Shane Gross, Mexico

Mangroves and Underwater category, Highly Commended.

Shane Gross frames Morelet’s crocodile, king of the mangroves.

“I was snorkeling in a beautiful mangrove lagoon when this Morelet's crocodile decided he was warm enough and entered the water from his favorite sunbathing rock.”

Also known as the Mexican crocodile or Belize crocodile, Morelets are found exclusively in the Atlantic regions of Mexico, Brazil, and Guatemala.

There are thought to be 79,000 to 100,000 individuals living across marine coastal and wetland habitats.

#3 "Sinking Sundarbans" By Supratim Bhattacharjee, India

Mangrove Photographer of the Year, Overall Winner.

Supratim Bhattacharjee witnesses a girl, standing before her tea shop, which is completely ruined by sea water in Frazerganj, Sundarbans.

“After Cyclone Aila struck the Sundarbans in 2009, it became clear that frequent cyclonic events would turn the residents of the Sundarbans into climate refugees. Between May 2019 and May 2021, the Sundarbans faced four cyclones – Fani, Bulbul, Amphan, and Yaas – each devastating enough to justify the fear of mass displacement.”

“An image that raises a thousand questions, whilst connecting you to the girl’s heart. Her vulnerability exposes the full impact of climate change and sea level rise experienced by many coastal communities”, says judge Dhritiman.

Nestled in the Bay of Bengal, the Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest in the world – and one of the most vulnerable. Once lauded as nature's custodians, these mangroves now endure relentless threats driven by human development and the climate crisis.

Rampant deforestation has compromised its role in climate regulation, exacerbating soil erosion and leaving vast stretches vulnerable to encroaching waters, particularly during cyclonic disturbances.

#4 "Kakaban Mangrove" By Purwanto Nugroho, Indonesia

Mangroves and Underwater category, Highly Commended.

Purwanto Nugroho captures the charm and power of underwater mangrove habitats.

“Mangroves act as a natural filter that can remove most pollutants before they reach the ocean. Soil and mangrove biomass have a significant capacity to store carbon from the atmosphere, helping to reduce carbon dioxide concentrations in the air.

“The complex roots of mangroves help bind soil and sediment, reduce erosion, and protect against damage due to waves or currents. Thus, mangrove conservation efforts are crucial to maintaining environmental sustainability and human life."

#5 "Piangua, Vital" By Daniel Alvarez, Colombia

Mangroves and People category, Highly Commended.

Daniel Alvarez sheds light on the work of minorities in the peripheral regions of Colombia.

“In the peripheral regions of Colombia, the daily struggle for sustenance coexists with a rich cultural heritage and a deep-rooted connection to the land.

Aura Nelly – known as 'La Ñata' – and Gabriela, two piangua harvesters from La Plata in Bahía Málaga, Valle del Cauca, work meticulously in the mangroves, collecting mangrove cockle or 'piangua'.

“These cockles are a source of livelihood as well as a living testimony to the interdependence between human beings and nature. Every gesture, every verse sung while they work, reflects the profound connection with the land and sea that surrounds them as well as the determination to preserve their cultural roots in an ever-changing world.”

#6 "Framing The Sunset" By Vladimir Borzykin, India

Mangroves and Landscape category, Highly Commended.

Vladimir Borzykin frames picturesque mangrove trees during a colorful sunset on the Andaman islands.

“Behind the beauty of white sand beaches and coconut palm trees, the rugged coast of Neil island (Shaheed Dweep) in Andaman islands archipelago, studded with picturesque mangrove trees, is largely overlooked.

The sea around the island is very shallow, and the tide recedes far away from the shore exposing an extremely sharp rocky reef. After a week of 'dancing' around this particular set of mangroves, trying different photo compositions and, luckily, having low tide and sunset timing coincide, I came up with this shot that captures the essence and atmosphere of the place and moment.”

#7 "Tapa Cara" By Sebastián Calle, Colombia

Mangroves and Wildlife category, Highly Commended.

Sebastián Calle has an unexpected encounter while birdwatching in the mangroves of Punta Soldado.

“The silky anteater (Cyclops dorsalis) is a recently described species, quite difficult to find due to its size and low populations, which are increasingly threatened by habitat deforestation.

“While searching for better angles in the mangrove mud to photograph some orioles, I came across this small anteater. I had little information about the species, its behavior, and its vulnerability, so I took the photos with a telephoto lens and encouraged the local community participating in a bird monitoring program to care for it, understand its importance, and protect its habitat.”

#8 Sinking Sundarbans II By Supratim Bhattacharjee, India

Mangroves and People category, Highly Commended.

Two women helplessly watch sea waves reclaim their homes in the Sundarbans.

The Sundarbans archipelago spans the borders of India and Bangladesh, with India laying claim to 40% of its approximately 40,000 square kilometers. The area is known for its rich forest resources, which locals rely on for income.

But rampant deforestation coupled with worsening storms has intensified food and water scarcity, diminished agriculture productivity and soil quality, and turned local communities into climate refugees.

“The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdowns delivered a severe blow to local livelihoods, especially for migrant laborers who found themselves without income or support. Cyclones like Amphan and Yaas inflicted significant damage, leaving many without sustenance or shelter.

“Adequate preservation of mangroves could have mitigated the catastrophic toll of these events. The Sundarbans face the prospect of witnessing one of the largest human migrations in history, with Kolkata at risk of submersion.

#9 "Foggy Fusion" By Ammar Alsayed Ahmed, United Arab Emirates

Mangroves and Landscape category, Highly Commended.

Ammar Alsayed Ahmed captures a magical moment as dawn fog sweeps over the urban mangroves of Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi.

The UAE’s coastline features 155 square kilometers of mangrove trees, known locally as Qurm. In the past, local communities heavily relied on qurm as a source of food, and fuel, and for building ships and houses.

Across the country’s seven emirates, 13 important mangrove sites nestle along the coastline, including Al Hafiya in Khor Kalba, Sharjah, a Ramsar site of international importance.

#10 "Mud Bath Ritual" By Johannes Panji Christo, Indonesia

Mangroves and People category, Winner. Johannes Panji Christo watches as a local Balinese man is covered in mud during a bathing tradition, locally known as Mebuug Buugan. “Men, women, and children wearing sarongs and traditional headgear, collect mud from a mangrove forest in Kedonganan village, just outside the town of Denpasar, and cover themselves as part of a purification ritual. Mebuug Buugan was recently revived after a 60-year hiatus. Hosted the day after the annual “Day of Silence Festival”, in which people stay home and self-reflect, the ritual sees people pray for gratitude and the earth’s fertility.

#11 "Symbiosis" By Giacomo D'orlando, Indonesia

Mangroves and Conservation Stories category, Winner.

Giacomo d’Orlando portrays life in one of the most vulnerable places to climate change.

"In Demak Regency, a combination of human-induced activities and the increasing pressure brought by climate change are threatening coastal communities. The coastline has been severely eroded, and mangroves that once protected the coast have been cut down and replaced by aquaculture ponds. As a result, the sea is swallowing people’s homes.

“Despite the difficult living conditions, most of Demak's residents don't want to move because their income potential is tied to their location near the sea. Over time, though, they have realized that the only solution is to restore the ecosystem by replanting the mangroves that had been cut down.

“A government policy based on mangrove transplantation, together with a reduction in groundwater extraction, could be the only way to ensure a future for the local coastal communities."

#12 "Guardians Of The Gulf" By Nick Conzone, USA

Mangroves and Underwater category, Runner Up.

Nick Conzone captures the moment a Diamondback terrapin emerges from its underground burrow in the Gulf Coast of Florida's mangrove islands.

“The diamondback terrapin is a keystone species, crucial for defending mangroves from snails, crabs, clams, and small fish. By keeping these populations in check, these turtles prevent overgrazing that could damage the mangroves and disrupt the ecosystem.

“They are well-adapted to their habitat, navigating underwater root systems with agility. Their webbed feet and strong beaks enable them to hunt effectively, ensuring the health of the mangrove forests by maintaining balanced prey populations.

“In the black mangrove islands, terrapins make their homes in shallow burrows dug into the soft mud. These burrows provide protection and a vantage point for watching their surroundings. Without mangroves, terrapins would be forced to live closer to shore, facing greater risks from human interaction, pollution, and habitat destruction.”