UAV-supported mangrove restoration: nature-based solutions for controlling vector-borne disease incidence

Mangrove ecosystems provide essential services, acting as natural barriers that help to curb the spread of vector-borne diseases. This article examines how restoring mangroves can play a key role in reducing such disease transmission by enhancing habitats of the natural predators of disease vectors and creating ecological conditions that hinder vector populations, particularly mosquitoes. Herein, we leverage the advancement of UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) technology and propose ten strategies-including (1) identification and restoration of hydrological connectivity, (2) diverse planting methods, (3) community involvement and visualizations, (4) restoration monitoring and maintenance, (5) integrated vector management, (6) optimal site selection based on vector habitats, (7) early detection of tree mortality, (8) tracking wildlife populations and movement, (9) real-time data collection and analysis, and (10) management and predictive modeling under climate change-through which targeted mangrove restoration can serve as a nature-based solution (NbS) for disease control. Our goal is to facilitate the integration of public health objectives into mangrove ecosystem management with the support of low-cost and widely available UAVs. Ultimately, effective mangrove restoration could offer a sustainable approach to reducing the growing threat of vector-borne diseases in coastal areas, safeguarding the environment, wildlife, and human health.