Mangroves of India Conference: Science, Collaboration, and Innovation in Action

Researchers, conservation practitioners, and policymakers converged in Kolkata in October 2025 for the Mangroves of India Conference, hosted by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research. The gathering brought together experts working across ecology, restoration, and climate science to discuss the future of mangrove ecosystems in India and beyond.

Bringing together a geographically diverse group of researchers, the conference effectively became a national think-tank of India’s leading mangrove scientists, fostering rich discussion across disciplines and regions. This was made possible through the leadership and coordination of the organising team, led by Prof Punyasloke Bhadury, a GLOW hub partner.

Prof Punyasloke Bhadury (Hub partner, GLOW), giving the opening address for the Mangroves of India Conference in Kolkata, India.

The event opened with a keynote from GLOW Director Prof. Rod Connolly of Griffith University, titled “Blending community engagement and automated monitoring to report wildlife and biodiversity trends in mangrove restoration.” Rod highlighted how emerging technologies—such as sensors, cameras, and AI-based analysis—can help address persistent challenges in monitoring biodiversity and ecosystem recovery in mangrove landscapes. He emphasised that these tools must work alongside community knowledge and engagement, with local participation playing a critical role in enabling meaningful, scalable, and lasting conservation outcomes.

Prof Punyasloke Bhadury (Hub partner, GLOW) with Prof Rod Connolly (Director, GLOW) during Rod’s keynote speech “Blending community engagement and automated monitoring to report wildlife and biodiversity trends in mangrove restoration.”

These themes strongly align with the work of the Global Wetlands Project, which develops innovative approaches to observing and understanding coastal wetlands around the world.

As mangrove ecosystems face growing pressures from climate change and coastal development, conferences like this provide an important platform for sharing knowledge and strengthening global collaboration in mangrove conservation and restoration.