Reimagining mangrove conservation through AI and remote sensing in an era of conflict

Abstract Mangrove ecosystems are critical for coastal protection, biodiversity and carbon storage. However, they face increasing threats from conflicts and wars. This paper discusses the overlooked impacts of regional and global-level armed conflicts on mangroves – including habitat destruction, disrupted conservation efforts and displaced communities. Focusing on war-affected countries, I emphasize the urgent need for global attention and tailored conservation strategies. In this regard advanced technologies like remote sensing and AI (artificial intelligence) could be used for monitoring rapid changes in mangrove cover during conflicts, detecting conflict-related drivers of mangrove loss, assessing status of restored mangroves in hard-to-access and unsafe areas, providing real-time deforestation alerts, tracking community movements, enabling automated damage assessment and much more. Protecting mangroves in conflict zones is essential for preserving both environmental and human resilience, and there exists a need to adopt novel technology-based conservation approaches.