The winners of the Mangrove Photography Awards 2024 have been revealed.
The awards saw a record-breaking 2,500 entries from 74 nations, showcasing the beauty and global significance of mangrove ecosystems around the globe.
This year's top prize was awarded to Indian photographer Supratim Bhattacharjee for his image 'Sinking Sundarbans’ – a striking shot of a young girl whose tea shop was destroyed following a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal.
“The gaze of this young woman commands you to pay attention and not only ponder what is happening to the people and ecosystems of the mangrove, but think about our own responsibility to them,” said judge Morgan Heim.
Mangrove Photography Awards 2024
Friends at the Edge – Jillian Morris
Mangroves & Underwater – 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.”
Image location: Bahamas
Nature's Ribbon – Ammar Alsayed Ahmed
Mangroves & Landscape – winner
In nature's embrace, a sinuous water channel meanders gracefully, flanked by a verdant gallery of mangrove trees lining its edges.
“This tranquil scene invites contemplation as the gentle flow of water navigates its course through the heart of the mangrove forest," said Ammar Alsayed Ahmed.
“The intertwining roots of the trees form intricate patterns, creating a natural tapestry that harmonises with the fluidity of the water. In this tranquil oasis, the photograph captures the timeless beauty and serenity of a landscape shaped by the delicate dance of water and mangroves.”
Image location: Al Dhafra Region, Abu Dhabi
Mud Bath Ritual – Johannes Panji Christo
Mangroves & People - 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 earth’s fertility.
Image location: Indonesia
Mudskipper in Aurora – Jayanta Guha
Mangroves & Wildlife – runner up
“Jayanta transports us into a dreamlike painting with the mudskipper, among the tall colourful grasses.”, said judge Chrstian Zielger.
Mudskippers are actually a species of fish found in mangroves and mudflats. Spending most of their time out of the water, they’re adapted to remain on land even after the tide has gone out. They mostly breathe by holding water in their mouth and gill chamber, though staying damp also allows them to breathe through their skin.
Their large eyes make them excellent predators while their pectoral fins act as legs, allowing them to crawl over mud and trees along the mangrove floor.
Image location: India
Kakaban Mangrove - Purwanto Nugroho
Mangroves & Underwater – 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."
Image location: Indonesia
The Fire Within – Javier Orozco
Mangroves & Wildlife – highly commended
Javier Orozco comes face to face with a crocodile at El Cora Crocodile Sanctuary in Bucerias in the State of Nayarit, Mexico.
“In the last 40 years, Banderas Bay has lost more than 80% of its wetlands to urban expansion. Crocodiles and other species continue to survive, now surrounded by busy highways, hotels and condominiums.
“This crocodile sanctuary is a non-profit organisation located next to a small lagoon. The surrounding area has been taken over by shopping centres, hotels, condos and the biggest threat has been the "Flamingos" developers. Corrupt politicians have sold Federal and non-Federal land that has fragmented the remaining wetlands.”
Image location: Mexico
Piangua, Vital – Daniel Alvarez
Mangroves & People – 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 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."
Image location: Colombia
Spectacular Mangrove Symphony – Ammar Alsayed Ahmed
Mangroves & Landscape - highly commended
A breathtaking coastal panorama in Abu Dhabi reveals a mesmerising play of colours.
“Abu Dhabi's diverse ecosystem, teeming with marine life, is adorned by resilient mangrove trees. Renowned for their exceptional salinity resistance, these trees feature aerial roots that emerge as slender columns allowing for respiration," said Ammar Alsayed Ahme.
“Beyond their ecological significance, mangrove swamps actively contribute to reducing air pollution and mitigating the effects of climate change by absorbing greenhouse gases.”
Image location: United Arab Emirates
David vs Goliath – Abhishek Das
Mangroves & Wildlife – highly commended
Abhishek Das spies a delicate mudskipper perched boldly on the tail of a massive crocodile.
“Is the mudskipper really the David? Tiny yet fearless, it contrasts sharply with the powerful, armoured crocodile, highlighting the stark difference in their sizes and the audacity of the smaller creature. Meanwhile, the crocodile’s tail resembles the numerous fights it has been through.”
Image location: India
Human Hunger - Star Udyawar
Mangroves & Threats – highly commended
Star Udyawar highlights how widespread urban development has encroached on mangrove habitats.
“Towering buildings and cleared land serve as a stark contrast against the delicate and biodiverse mangrove forests. The encroachment represents a profound threat to the environment, as these vital coastal habitats are being rapidly diminished by widespread development and clearing.
“Hundreds of hectares of mangroves are cleared to make room for these industries. But that is not the end of the problem. These industries typically release effluents into the nearby ponds on several occasions, creating an impervious physical and toxic oily layer.”
Image location: India
Guardians of the Bay – Jake Mason
Mangroves & Landscape – highly commended
A cluster of mangrove trees at the water’s edge guard the coastline, protecting against erosion and providing habitat for countless species.
“During our exploration, these mangroves, positioned at the forefront of Faure Island, stood out as natural defenders against coastal erosion," said Jake Mason.
“This photograph captures their dense roots and lush foliage at dusk, with the calm seas and fading light creating a tranquil yet powerful scene. The image underscores the importance of these ecosystems in maintaining coastal integrity and supporting marine life.”
Image location: Australia
Mangrove Coast – Balazs Fodor
Mangroves & Landscape – highly commended
Balazs Fodor captures an aerial view of seaweed farms along a mangrove coast in Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia.
“Seaweed farming in Nusa Lembongan has been a significant economic activity for local communities for decades. The shallow, nutrient-rich waters of this small island provide an ideal environment for seaweed cultivation.
“In regions like Nusa Lembongan, where mangrove forests fringe the coastline, integrating seaweed farming with mangrove conservation can yield multiple benefits. Seaweed can only thrive in a healthy environment, so seaweed farmers keep beaches and shorelines clean, thereby further enhancing local biodiversity.”
Image location: Indonesia
Mangrove Walls Broken – Dipayan Bose
Mangroves & Threats - winner
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.
“This villager has lost all his household belongings in the flood," said Dipayan Bose.
"Dipayan Bose The cutting down of trees for commercial and domestic use has made the area prone to natural disasters. Storms, heavy rainfall, and floods wreak havoc here. Approximately 3.14mm rise in sea levels every year has taken several islands under the sea. Increased soil erosion and loss of soil quality resulting in reduced crop yield have made situations worse.”
Image location: India
Mangrove at Night – Nicholas Alexander Hess
Young Mangrove Photographer of the Year - winner
"Equipped only with my macro lens, I wanted to capture more than just this young saltwater crocodile when I encountered it at low tide in the mangroves," said Nicholas Alexander Hess.
“I used the multiple exposure mode in my camera to superimpose layers onto my image of the croc's eye to capture more of the scene without sacrificing detail of the eye.
“Captured at night, the image gives off a slightly unsettling feeling, such as what one may experience in a mangrove, unknowing of what predators may be lurking nearby, hidden by the dense network of the mangrove."
Image location: Australia
Sinking Sundarbans – Supratim Bhattacharjee
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 will 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.
Image location: Supratim Bhattacharjee, India
The Mangrove Photography Awards is brought to you by Mangrove Action Project (MAP), a US-based non-profit whose mission is to empower communities worldwide to conserve, manage and restore mangrove forests. Through science, training and environmental education, they provide nature-based solutions for people and our planet.
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