MAP recognizes the great need to empower local stakeholders to take a "Shore to Reef Approach" to sustainably manage their coastal resources, including the mangrove wetlands, sea grass beds, and coral reefs vital for healthy and productive coastal marine ecosystems.

A first step toward empowerment of local communities is awareness-raising regarding the importance of these unique resources.

MAP provides

4 essential functions to grassroots groups and proponents of mangrove conservation:

• coordination of an international NGO network and information clearinghouse on mangrove forests;
• promotion of public awareness of mangrove forest issues;
• development of technical and financial support for local NGO projects in the global South; and
• publicize within the developed nations the basic needs and struggles of Southern coastal fishing and farming communities affected by the consumer demands of the wealthy nations.

Since 1998, the US office also produces a bi-weekly electronic news bulletin, the MAP News (originally published as The Late Friday News), action alerts, and published articles, as well as participates in public fora and presentations, all of which have helped to establish international links and action-oriented plans.

MAP's international network

 Today includes:

• over 450 NGOs
• 300 scientists and academics
• 60 nations
  
  

MAP in a post-tsunami world

Following the tsunami of December 2004, MAP was one of the first to point to mangrove loss and degradation as a major factor contributing to extensive loss of human lives and property.  Its call to restore the protective greenbelt buffers that healthy mangrove forests provide was heard widely and has been adopted as policy by governments and international institutions alike.