SEAToday.com, Jakarta - Three Indonesian photographers captured the spotlight at the 10th Mangrove Photo Awards, a competition organized by the Mangrove Action Project. The contest aimed to highlight the intricate relationship between wildlife, coastal communities, and mangroves, as well as the delicate balance of this unique ecosystem both above and below the water.

Johannes Panji Christo's "Ritual of Mud Bathing" won the Mangroves & People category. Purwanto Nugroho's "Mangrove Kakaban" was a finalist in the Mangrove & Underwater category. And Giacomo d'Orlando's "Symbiosis" took home the top prize in the Mangrove & Conservation Story category.

India's Supratim Bhattacharjee won the overall award with his poignant image, "Sinking Sundarban," which depicted the aftermath of a storm in Frazerganj, Sundarban, India, on a young girl named Pallavi.

The photography competition organised by the Mangrove Action Project - now in its 10th year - aims to showcase the connection between wildlife, coastal communities and mangroves, as well as the fragility of this unique ecosystem, both above and below the water's surface.

"Conservation as a story is a complicated one," said the competition judge, Morgan Heim.

"Photography has the ability to help us accept and feel close to those stories, regardless of our language. Every time I see this type of photography, I think there is hope."

Fellow judge Christian Ziegler adds: "[In the competition] there are many interesting stories about life in mangroves, from scientific insights to ecosystem restoration and the difficult conditions people face."

Mangroves are an important safeguard against climate change. To put it into perspective, one hectare (4,000 square metres) of mangrove forest absorbs almost the same amount of carbon dioxide as one hectare of Amazon rainforest.

Mangroves also protect coastlines from erosion, as severe storms become more frequent.