Mangrove Photographer of the Year captures what could be the last of the Everglades' iconic birds

Aerial view of a flock of bright pink roseate spoonbills flying over turquoise water with a shadow of a fish below.

As the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem approaches, the Mangrove Action Project (MAP) has announced the winners of the 2025 Mangrove Photography Awards. This annual global competition uses the power of photography to raise awareness, inspire action, and connect people to one of the planet's most vital – and overlooked – ecosystems.

The winning images visualize urgent action. They explore the relationships between people, wildlife, and mangroves, highlighting the fragile balance of life in these coastal forests. Despite global restoration efforts, mangroves are disappearing. Half of the world's mangrove ecosystems could collapse by 2025, threatened by deforestation, urban development, aquaculture, and climate change.