In breaking news! MFP is proud to announce that Chris's photo was the runner up in the Mangroves & Landscape category of the 2020 World Mangrove Day Photography Awards. The picture is of the stunning mangroves in Antsahampano in northwest Madagascar, with the island of Nosy Komba in the background. A location that holds a special place in my heart as not only are mangroves one of my favourite environments to film, photograph and spend time in but also because this is where I got to know the love of my life Leah Glass who along with local communities and her incredible colleagues at Blue Ventures does so much good work to conserve them. 

I hope that these photography awards highlight the importance of mangroves worldwide and in particular in Madagascar, where my picture was taken and I now call home. Mangroves are rich ecosystems that support the planet and people in unique ways, from storing carbon, to protecting habitats and villages against flooding, and as breeding grounds for fish. Unfortunately, despite their importance, mangrove forests are under severe threat. In Madagascar alone, more than 20% of mangroves have been lost over the last 30 years. In this region of the country a mangrove area equivalent to almost 800 football pitches is being lost every year.

In addition to climate change and sea level rise, there are also local threats. These include overharvesting of wood for fuel and construction, dams and irrigation that reduce the flow of water reaching the forests, and overfishing causing disruption to food chains and fish communities.

I would like to say a special thanks to Leah Glass & Michel "Goff" Strogoff for sharing their in depth knowledge of the area and help in getting in the perfect position to capture the photograph. In addition I would like to say a big thank you to Ruth Leeney of Protect Africa’s Sawfish for commissioning me to film and photograph this vital mangrove system as part of an educational project on sawfish. 

Congratulations to Harry Pieters for his stunning winning image and thanks to the judging panel Mangrove Action Project (MAP) for selecting my image. https://www.facebook.com/MangroveActionProject/posts/10158833289059756