The Mangrove Action Project (MAP) announces the winners, runners-up and highly commended entries from its 12th annual Mangrove photography awards. The competition is presented as a way to draw attention to mangrove landscapes that many viewers may not otherwise encounter. MAP receives 5,258 submissions from 87 countries for the awards. The results are published in photo galleries released by participating outlets, featuring selected winner images and other recognized photographs across the contest. Mongabay also ties the announcement to World Mangrove Day on 26 July, highlighting MAP’s framing of mangroves as an “underdog” habitat compared with more widely photographed ecosystems. Across the coverage, the awards are described as an international, multi-year effort run by MAP, with the 2026 cycle marking its 12th year. The published materials focus on the images themselves and the recognition they receive, rather than on changes to judging criteria or specific environmental findings.