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Not the same plastics: Comparing abundance and composition of marine macro-litter in mangroves and beaches in Southeast Asia
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Scientists surveyed trash on beaches and in mangrove forests across four Southeast Asian countries and found mangroves collect over twice as much plastic litter as beaches—much of it foam pieces, food wrappers, and cigarette butts. These mangrove "trash traps" matter because as this plastic breaks down over time, it can release microplastics into coastal waters and seafood that people eat, making mangrove cleanup and better waste management important priorities for protecting both ecosystems and human health.
Southeast Asia continues to be a global hotspot for marine litter pollution, where several countries in this region are repeatedly identified as top contributors of land-based waste leakages into the ocean. Moreover, marine pollution is a transboundary issue where the prevailing winds and currents move litter across regional water bodies. Hence, a transboundary collaboration is needed to produce comparable field data to guide actions and solutions. This study reports an integrated assessment of macro-litter in mangroves and beaches across Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, and Viet Nam using standardised belt transect surveys and harmonised litter categorisation at 25 study sites between 2021 and 2023. Across all countries, mangroves consistently had higher litter densities than beaches (2.53× [95% CI: 1.47-4.34] and 2.66× [95% CI: 1.45-4.90] in terms of count and mass, respectively). Plastics accounted for 69.6-88.5% of total litter in terms of count densities, with foam fragments, food packaging, and cigarette butts being the most common plastic categories. There were also country-specific plastic patterns, e.g., plastic bags and fishing-related debris were most abundant in Viet Nam and the Philippines, respectively. Other notable observations included the disproportionate litter mass at several Indonesian sites due to heavier cloth-based items and the high densities of drinking straws in Singapore's mangroves. Seasonal variation was observed in Indonesia, where macro-litter densities were higher during wetter Northwest monsoon than the drier Southeast monsoon, but not in Singapore. Overall, this collaborative and harmonised study provides empirical grounding for interpreting regional patterns of macro-litter pollution and supports future modelling efforts and evidence-based policy development.
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Quantification and characterization of macroplastics present in the mangrove ecosystem of SUCITAPPLAS, Surigao del Norte, Philippines
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Researchers found hundreds of pieces of plastic trash—mostly bottles, bags, and plastic film—tangled in mangrove forests in the Philippines, showing these coastal ecosystems act like nets that trap our plastic waste. This matters because mangroves are nurseries for fish and seafood we eat, and as trapped plastic breaks down over time, it can turn into microplastics that enter the food chain and, eventually, our bodies—making better local trash management an important step for protecting both these ecosystems and human health.
Mangrove forests as traps for marine litter
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Researchers surveyed 20 mangrove forests along the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf and confirmed that mangroves act as traps for marine plastic litter, with denser forests and proximity to shipping routes linked to higher debris accumulation. The study shows that ocean-based activities, not just land-based sources, are a major driver of plastic buildup in coastal mangrove ecosystems.
Impact of mangrove forest structure and landscape on macroplastics capture
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Researchers surveyed macroplastic accumulation across seven mangrove forests in the Philippines, finding 1.1 items per square meter on average with the highest abundance at landward zones and near river mouths. Mangrove biomass and root structure were positively correlated with plastic capture, confirming that mangrove structural complexity enhances their ability to trap land-derived plastic litter.
Plastic pollution in mangrove ecosystems: A global meta-analysis
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This meta-analysis pooled global data on plastic pollution in mangrove ecosystems and found that these critical coastal habitats act as natural plastic traps. Mangroves accumulate significant amounts of both large plastic debris and microplastics due to their complex root structures. Since mangroves serve as nurseries for fish and seafood species that people eat, plastic contamination in these ecosystems could affect the food chain.
Anthropogenic marine debris and its dynamics across peri-urban and urban mangroves on Penang Island, Malaysia
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Researchers tracked the accumulation of marine debris in urban and semi-urban mangroves on Penang Island, Malaysia, finding that debris abundance varied with season, tidal patterns, and proximity to urban areas. Mangroves act as debris traps, concentrating plastic waste including microplastics that filter through their root systems.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.