EMA Green Seal Spotlight: The film industry helps preserve and restore mangroves in the Caribbean.
Isla Baru. Colombian Caribbean Coast.
“Scientific studies have found that Mangroves sequester carbon 2 – 4 times greater than mature tropical forests and contain the highest carbon density of all terrestrial ecosystems“ (Fatoyinbo et al, 2017)
Ecofilming ensures that film productions have the most positive impact on the locations where the shoots we accompany in Latin America occur.
A week of filming a movie or series in our region can generate the equivalent CO2 emissions of a family of four over a year or travel by car around the entire Earth along the equator. Mitigating this impact is our mission, and we aim to reduce potential environmental damage and strive to leave the locations and their ecosystems in better condition than we found them. In 2024, Ecofilming supported two shootings on the Colombian Caribbean Coast, specifically on Baru Island and Palomino, Magdalena.
Isla Baru and Palomino Beach near Cartagena city and Santa Marta city in Colombia
This region boasts a rich biodiversity, both marine and terrestrial. Mangroves, found only in tropical and subtropical areas like Colombia, thrive in the interstitial space between salt and fresh water. Unfortunately, they are threatened by over-logging and the damaging practice of draining them to transform the land for construction or agriculture.
The Malpelo Foundation collaborates directly with the residents of these regions to protect and nurture the mangrove ecosystems. Through attentive care from a young age, these mangroves are meticulously maintained in natural nurseries designed to shield them as they grow strong before being moved to their natural habitat.
According to the Malpelo Foundation: “Today, it is widely understood that carbon in the atmosphere is the leading cause of climate change. That is why the term blue carbon, the carbon that is stored naturally in marine and coastal ecosystems, has become an interesting tool to fight climate change.
Coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves, seagrass meadows, and marshes, store half of the carbon found on the ocean floor. Protecting these ecosystems and promoting their restoration is key to avoiding the release of thousands of years of stored carbon.
Mangroves are vital in many species' life cycles and survival. by offering shelter and food, protecting coastal areas from waves, preventing flooding, providing fishing resources, and serving as CO2 reservoirs, mitigating climate change's effects.”
In this context, the Malpelo Foundation and Other Marine Ecosystems, in alliance with National Natural Parks and communities, have been working in three areas surrounding the National Park: Barú Peninsula, Archipelago of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, and Archipelago of San Bernardo, to contribute to the conservation and restoration of the mangrove ecosystem.
Benefits of Mangroves
Source of food: fish, mollusks, crustaceans, salt, and honey, among other products.
Provision of fuel and wood: firewood and charcoal for cooking food, wood for building and repairing homes, boats, fishing gear, and other structures, and natural fibers.
Biochemicals: They produce tannins for tanning leather, as well as leaves, flowers, fruits, and bark used as infusions to alleviate certain conditions.
Nutrient cycle: they act in the supply, storage and recycling of nutrients.
Soil formation: They promote the retention of sediments and the accumulation of organic matter, which favors the consolidation of new lands.
Habitat: They are a refuge for countless species of fauna and flora, partly or all of their life cycle.
Purification: They can retain, recover, and eliminate excess nutrients and contaminating elements found in water.
Regulation of erosion: They promote the retention of soil and sediments. Due to their location, they reduce the effect of waves on coastlines and islands, forming a barrier against the force of the waves.
Regulation of natural phenomena such as floods and provide protection against storms and hurricanes.
These areas boast invaluable scenic beauty, with beaches, creeks, and forests ideal for nature tourism. Furthermore, their variety of ecological processes and interactions makes them suitable for both formal and informal education. Additionally, they serve as channels for transportation and communication through their network of canals, creeks, and swamps.
They regulate temperature, climate, and rainfall.
Mangroves naturally capture CO2 and help maintain the energy balance in coastal areas. They are great allies in the fight against the climate crisis, so we must recognize their value, protect them, and restore them.
Thanks to the Malpelo Foundation, the Crew and Talent of TIS Studios Colombia, and the curiosity of our Green Rabbit.
Don’t forget to watch “Perfil Falso 2” and “Medusa” on NETFLIX!
Two Series Awarded with the Environmental Media Association Green Seal Gold.
Sustainable film productions in Latin America.
Follow the green rabbit!
Fundación Malpelo https://www.fundacionmalpelo.org/
TIS Studios: https://tisproductions.com/