Nature-based solutions, ecosystem services, and human well-being in global south mangroves: a review

Abstract

The consequences of mangrove degradation, including biodiversity loss and the decline of associated ecosystem services (ES), have created a global urgency to protect mangroves through more integrated approaches such as Nature-based Solutions (NbS). NbS are increasingly promoted to address these challenges; however, there is still a lack of studies that synthesize current knowledge on the role of mangrove NbS in delivering ES and supporting human well-being. Through a systematic review, this study identifies and expands the knowledge of four key ES outcomes of mangrove NbS: coastal protection, sediment regulation, climate regulation, and habitat and biodiversity. However, only a small fraction of the literature provides empirical evidence linking these services to welfare benefits, underscoring the complexity of NbS–ES–well-being relationships within dynamic social–ecological systems. We propose a framework that highlights institutions and governance, and complementary socio-economic actions as critical enablers for translating NbS interventions into broader social and ecological benefits. Looking ahead, advancing mangrove NbS science and practice, particularly in the Global South, will require transdisciplinary, multi-stakeholder, and North–South collaborations to co-produce contextually relevant and actionable knowledge that bridges science, policy, and practice.