Experts gather to spotlight mangrove research
Darwin will take the international stage next week as Charles Darwin University prepares to host one of the biggest conferences on mangrove and saltmarsh conservation research.
More than 40 speakers will present at the Australian Mangrove and Saltmarsh Network Conference, including researchers, policy makers, industry stakeholders and overseas delegates.
CDU’s Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods (RIEL) is the major sponsor of the event, along with the Northern Territory Government.
RIEL Director Professor Andrew Campbell said the conference would present the latest research findings on mangroves and saltmarshes in Australia and beyond.
Professor Campbell said this included raising awareness about the critical role mangroves played in coastal protection, providing food and habitat for fish and other species, and supporting the livelihoods of coastal communities.
“Mangroves are ‘the thin green line’ that buffers our coastlines,” Professor Campbell said.
“They play a critical role in coastal ecosystems and fisheries, and store an enormous amount of carbon, which is emitted into the atmosphere when mangroves are cleared.
“RIEL has a number of projects in mangrove research in Australia and Indonesia, and the conference will highlight the value and diversity of Darwin’s own mangrove communities.”
The conference will include a fieldtrip to observe mangroves and other natural habitats at Ludmilla Bay and the Kulaluk surrounds, followed by an art exhibition and film screening.
Seven CDU researchers will present at the conference along with international mangrove experts from Australia, the United States and Indonesia, and will include a keynote address from Professor Catherine Lovelock, of the University of Queensland. Other keynotes will include Former Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of Indonesia from Bogor Agricultural University, Dr Rokhmin Dahuri, and University of Wollongong’s Professor Colin Woodroffe.
The conference will be held in Darwin from 3 to 6 May. To view the program, visit W: riel.cdu.edu.au/news-events/events/conference/australian-mangrove-saltmarsh-network-conference