Mangrove Photo Competition Shines a Light on Threatened Water Worlds

Jul 26, 2024

Matt Growcoot

On the left, a rocket launches into a dark sky over water beside a mangrove. On the right, a young girl in a green dress stands on a beach with debris and rough waves, looking solemnly at the camera. Another child is seen in the background amidst stormy weather.

The winners of the Mangrove Photography 2024 Awards have been announced, a competition celebrating the fragile watery ecosystems.

A powerful portrait of a young girl in the Sundarbans, India standing before her tea shops that had been totally ruined by sea water was crowned overall winner. The Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest in the world and one of the most vulnerable because of frequent cyclonic events there.

A young girl in a green dress stands on a stormy beach with waves crashing behind her. Rubble and debris are scattered around, and another person is visible in the distance. The sky is overcast, and the atmosphere appears tense and chaotic. — Overall winner and Mangrove Photographer of the Year – A young girl stands before her tea shop that has been ruined by sea water in Frazerganj, Sundarbans. | Supratim Bhattacharjee / Mangrove Photography Awards

Mangroves and People

A person covered in mud with leaves on their head stands in a dense, green forest. Another person, also muddy, reaches out and touches the first person’s face. The surrounding environment is lush and filled with trees and foliage. — Winner of the Mangroves and People category – A local man in Bali gets a traditional mud bath. | Johannes Panji Christo / Mangrove Photography Awards

A turtle on a mat is surrounded by a group of people during a festival. The turtle has a decorative object on its back. In the background, a white shrine decorated with garlands and images of deities can be seen under a partly cloudy sky. — Runner up in the Mangroves and People category – A Northern River terrapin before release as part of a conservation breeding program and rewilding in the Sundarbans. | Upamanyu Chakraborty / Mangrove Photography Awards

Mangroves and Landscape

An aerial view of a winding, turquoise river meandering through a vast, white, sandy landscape. Clusters of green vegetation are scattered along the riverbanks, creating intricate patterns against the contrasting light and dark areas. — Winner of the Landscape category – Mangrove trees flank a water channel in Abu Dhabi. | Ammar Alsayed Ahmed / Mangrove Photography Awards

Aerial view of a vibrant landscape with patches of green vegetation interspersed with bright orange and yellow areas, likely marshland or wetlands. The contrasting colors form intricate patterns, giving a textured and dynamic appearance to the scene. — Runner up in the Mangroves and Landscapes category – Unique patterns of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve in Quintana Roo in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. | Gibert Isern / Mangrove Photography Awards

A rugged, gnarled tree with exposed roots stands in the foreground on rocky terrain, while another tree with hanging vines is seen at a distance. The sky is painted with hues of orange and purple as the sun sets, casting a serene glow over the tranquil scene. — Highly commended in the Mangroves and Landscapes category – Picturesque mangrove trees on the Andaman Islands. | Gibert Isern / Mangrove Photography Awards

Aerial view of a city skyscraper skyline emerging from a blanket of fog during sunrise or sunset. The soft light bathes the tall buildings in a warm glow, while patches of green land are faintly visible below the mist. — Highly Commended in the Mangroves and Landscapes category – Dawn fog sweeps over the urban mangroves of Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi. | Ammar Alsayed Ahmed / Mangrove Photography Awards

Mangroves and Wildlife

Top view of three dolphins swimming in green ocean water, creating swirls of murky, muddy water around them. One dolphin is leaping out of the water while the other two swim near the surface. — Winner of the Mangroves and Wildlife category – A bottlenose dolphin grabs a mullet from the air during a “mud-ring feeding”, a rare fishing behavior used by dolphins living in Florida Bay. | Mark Ian Cook / Mangrove Photography Awards

A small mudskipper fish is perched on a wet, muddy surface surrounded by blurred, green aquatic plants and reeds. The background is a soft focus mix of blue and green hues, giving a tranquil, underwater-like atmosphere. — Runner up in the Mangroves and Wildlife category – A muskipper in India. | Jayanta Guha / Mangrove Photography Awards

A wild feline, likely a jungle cat, walks through a muddy, marshy area with sparse vegetation. The animal is alert and has a light brown coat. In the background, there are small green bushes and trees, and the ground is covered with protruding roots and sticks. — Highly commended in the Mangroves and Wildlife category – A forest cat hunting in the mangrove forest of Bandar Abbas, Iran. | Erfan Samanfar / Mangrove Photography Awards

Close-up of a crocodile's head showing its large, sharp teeth and rough, textured skin. The image captures the inside of its open mouth, emphasizing its powerful jaws and the intricate details of its teeth and bumpy skin. — Highly commended in the Mangroves and Wildlife category – Face to face with a crocodile in the State of Nayarit, Mexico. | Javier Orozco / Mangrove Photography Awards

Mangroves and Threats

A man stands in a makeshift shelter made of corrugated metal, partially submerged in floodwater. He looks outward, holding onto the structure's frame. The surrounding area is flooded under a blue sky with sparse clouds. Trees partially submerged in water are visible. — Winner of the Mangroves and Threats category – Due to repeated tropical cyclones and sea level rise in the Bay of Bengal, river embankments have become broken by high tides in coastal villages across the Sundarbans, West Bengal. As a result, homes and farms have flooded, fisheries have become destroyed by seawater, and people have been forced to migrate, victims of climate change. | Dipayan Bose / Mangrove Photography Awards

A time-lapse photo of a rocket launch at night, with the trajectory forming an arc in the sky. In the foreground, a small mangrove tree stands in calm water, reflecting parts of the light from the launch. The sky is clear and dark, highlighting the rocket's bright path. — Runner up in the Mangroves and Threats category – A SpaceX rocket launches above Florida’s mangroves. ‘“This was shot near the SpaceX launch facility where launches are happening far too often, which has already had some negative effects on The Indian River Lagoon and sanctuary. We have seen the decline of water quality and seagrasses, which has affected sea life, plants, and animals.” | Jeff Thamert / Mangrove Photography Awards

A woman in an orange sari wades through floodwaters with a silver pot in her hand. The surrounding area, including a partially damaged building, is submerged. The sky is partly cloudy, and some greenery can be seen in the background beyond the flooded area. — Highly commended in the Mangroves and Threats category – A woman searches for drinking water in the Sundarbans, West Bengal. | Dipayan Bose / Mangrove Photography Awards

A surreal image of a large, partly submerged fish head in calm water with trees in the background. A small motorboat with blurred motion speeds past in the background, creating a dynamic contrast with the stillness of the fish. — Highly commended in the Mangroves and Threats category – A dead black drum fish in Florida after heavy flooding. | Hector Cordero / Mangrove Photography Awards

Mangroves and Underwater

A sea turtle swims through a tangled forest of red mangrove roots underwater. The water is clear, revealing the turtle's shell pattern and the intricate network of roots that form a complex and vibrant underwater labyrinth. — Winner of the Mangroves and Underwater category – A turtle glides through mangroves in the Bahamas. | Oliver Clement / Mangrove Photography Awards

Underwater scene featuring a snake swimming among the roots of a submerged mangrove forest. Sunlight filters through the water's surface, illuminating the tangled roots and aquatic vegetation. — Runner up in the Mangroves and Underwater category – A diamondback terrapin emerges from its underground burrow in Florida. | Nick Conzone / Mangrove Photography Awards

Two crocodiles swim side by side underwater, appearing almost as mirror images. Above them, green plants float on the surface, while a few submerged branches extend from the right. The water is dark, highlighting the crocodiles' textured skin. — Highly commended in the Mangroves and Underwater category – A Mmorelet’s crocodile, king of the mangroves. Mexico. | Shane Gross / Mangrove Photography Awards

A shark swims through a dark underwater scene filled with numerous tall, thin mangrove roots extending from the sandy seabed towards the surface. The roots create a dense, intricate environment. The shark appears to be navigating through this complex habitat. — Highly commended in the Mangroves and Underwater category – A juvenile lemon shark lurks in the darkness. | Nick Conzone / Mangrove Photography Awards

Mangroves and Conservation Stories

Clothes hang on a wooden structure made of bamboo poles, drying above a waterlogged area with green trees in the background. Various garments in red, green, gray, and white are visible, and some wooden stakes are submerged in the water below. — Winner of the Mangroves and Conservation Stories category – In the Demark Regency of Indonesia, climate change is threatening coastal communities. | Giacomo d’Orlando / Mangrove Photography Awards

An elderly man in a yellow shirt and pink sarong sits on a chair in a flooded room, his feet submerged in water. A television showing a show is beside him, above a blue cabinet. A young boy stands near a fan in the background, amid visible damage caused by the flood. — Winner of the Mangroves and Conservation Stories category – In the Demark Regency of Indonesia, climate change is threatening coastal communities. | Giacomo d’Orlando / Mangrove Photography Awards

A flooded village scene with rows of young mangrove plants submerged in water. Traditional houses with tile roofs and wooden walls line either side of the waterlogged area, leading to a distant blue structure. Overcast sky above. — Winner of the Mangroves and Conservation Stories category – In the Demark Regency of Indonesia, climate change is threatening coastal communities. | Giacomo d’Orlando / Mangrove Photography Awards

Aerial view of a flood-affected village surrounded by green vegetation. Traditional houses with reddish-brown roofs are partially submerged in water. The flooded area creates a pattern of isolated clusters of homes and green patches. — Winner of the Mangroves and Conservation Stories category – In the Demark Regency of Indonesia, climate change is threatening coastal communities. | Giacomo d’Orlando / Mangrove Photography Awards

Two construction workers repair a stone structure next to a yellow-painted house. One worker in a green hoodie stands near the wall, while the other works with stones in a blue shirt. The house has a large window with decorative bars and plants around it. — Winner of the Mangroves and Conservation Stories category – In the Demark Regency of Indonesia, climate change is threatening coastal communities. | Giacomo d’Orlando / Mangrove Photography Awards

A hand holds a young, elongated mangrove propagule attached to a branch, with dense green foliage and reflections of water in the background. The person's sleeve is visible, showcasing a light blue and black shirt. — Winner of the Mangroves and Conservation Stories category – In the Demark Regency of Indonesia, climate change is threatening coastal communities. | Giacomo d’Orlando / Mangrove Photography Awards

Young Mangrove Photographer of the Year

Close-up image of the eye of a crocodile peering through tall grass, with its rough, scaly textured skin visible in the background. Small green plants with heart-shaped leaves are also present, adding natural elements to the scene. — Winner of the Young Mangrove Photographer of the Year category – This in-camera multiple-exposure shot of a saltwater crocodile in Australia adds more detail of the mangrove. | Nicholas Alexander Hess/ Mangrove Photography Awards

Hosted by the Mangrove Action Project, this year’s awards saw a record-breaking 2,500 entries from 74 nations, showcasing the beauty and global significance of mangrove ecosystems around the world.

In addition, winners have been selected in six categories — People, Landscape, Underwater, Threats, Wildlife, and Stories (a portfolio category) – while photographers under the age of 24 competed to become the Young Mangrove Photographer of the Year.

For more, head to the competition’s website.

Update 7/29: This article has been amended to clarify that the photo of the turtle emerging from its burrow in Indonesia was actually taken in Florida.