What is the Mangrove Breakthrough Network?
What is the Mangrove Breakthrough Network?
The Mangrove Breakthrough Network on Restor provides high-integrity mangrove projects with the data infrastructure, monitoring tools, and global visibility needed to connect with prospective third-party funders.
How does it work?
How does it work?
You register your project site on Restor, which gives you free access to monitoring tools and a public profile showcasing your work. This makes it easier for donors, companies, and investors to find and evaluate projects that match what they're looking for. The network connects local mangrove projects with funders and technical partners around the world.
Does being accepted guarantee funding?
No. Being accepted means your site meets our data standards and will be added to the network. It does not mean funding. We share the network with donors, companies, and investors, but they decide independently, based on their own criteria, whether to fund any project. Joining gives you visibility and tools; it is not a grant or an investment award.
How do I apply?
Applications are submitted directly on Restor:
Create a free account and set up your organization profile on Restor if you have not done so already.
Visit this page Mangrove Breakthrough call for Projects: Expression of Interest
Read the introduction carefully and click on Start application
Make sure you answer all required questions
Click the yellow Submit button.
What happens after the submission?
You will receive an automatic email from Restor confirming the submission.
Our team reviews your submission against the program's criteria.
What happens after I'm accepted?
Your site is made visible to our network of partners and potential funders. You get access to tools to track your site's data over time, and you can update your profile to highlight your project's funding and technical needs.
Why should I participate if funding isn't guaranteed?
Joining gives your project mapping tools, a public track record, and exposure to a global network of funders who use Restor to find projects. It also helps get your project's data ready to meet the standards that donors, companies, and investors look for. Even without a guarantee, it puts your project in front of the right people.
Why was my project rejected?
Every rejection falls into one of these categories, and you'll be told which one applies to you:
Not mangrove cover → your site doesn't appear to be mangrove or coastal habitat.
Incomplete application → required information is missing, most often because a site wasn't linked to your organization.
Blue Carbon screenshot missing → your site is flagged as Blue Carbon but doesn't have a unique supporting screenshot.
Polygon shape → the boundary you drew doesn't reflect your actual project area (too large, too rough, or not the right shape). Please refer to this help article for detailed information on what an optimal site profile looks like.
Site type mismatch → the site type you selected doesn't match the work you describe doing there.
Overlap → your site overlaps significantly with another mapped area in a way that needs to be resolved.
General / not a fit → the submission doesn't meet the program's eligibility criteria.
Can I resubmit if my project was rejected?
In most cases, yes. The update email will tell you why your project was denied and what needs to be fixed. Once you've updated your submission accordingly, you can apply again in the next cohort.
There are a few cases where we determine a project isn't a good fit for the program, for example, if it's not a mangrove-focused project. If this applies to you, we'll make this clear in your update email, so you'll know upfront whether resubmitting is worth pursuing.
What does my site polygon need to look like?
It should be an accurate boundary that follows the real shape of your restoration or conservation area — not a rough square, a bounding box, or a boundary that's much larger than the actual project. Vague descriptions like "we operate in this area" aren't enough; the polygon needs to reflect a specific site. Refer to this guide for more detailed information.
What is a Blue Carbon site, and why do I need a screenshot?
The Mangrove Breakthrough team expects blue carbon projects featured on Restor to have a High-Quality Blue Carbon (HQBC) label, following the criteria proposed by Conservation International and ORRA (more info here and here).
To meet this expectation, please review and complete the steps outlined in the HQBC Progress Wheel, which you can download here. Once completed, take a screenshot of the finished wheel and upload it to your blue carbon site profile on Restor. This screenshot serves as the HQBC "assessment" for the purposes of your application.
Important: If you mark a site as a Blue Carbon project, you must upload a unique, site-specific screenshot confirming it. Applications will be rejected if the screenshot is missing, or if the same screenshot is reused across multiple sites.
Do I need to submit a pitch deck?
[CONFIRM: is a pitch deck mandatory this cohort, or still optional?]
What if my organization's work covers a large landscape rather than one specific site?
You can still apply, but you'll need to include polygons of the actual intervention area(s) within that landscape, not just the landscape boundary itself.
My site overlaps with another mapped area — is that a problem?
It depends what it overlaps with. Overlapping with your own organization's area of interest, or with another private site, isn't an issue. Overlapping with an urban area or another organization's public site may require a closer look, and you may be asked for clarification.
I have several sites, some accepted, some rejected. What happens?
You'll receive two separate emails: one covering the sites that were accepted, and one covering the sites that were rejected, each with the relevant next steps.
How do I make sure my site is linked to my organization, not just my personal account?
When you add a site on Restor, make sure it's attached to your organization profile, not only to your individual user account. If you're not sure, reach out to support@restor.eco and we can help. Add link to guide
How long does it take to hear back?
[CONFIRM: typical review turnaround time]
Is there a cost to apply or join the network?
[CONFIRM: confirm the program is free to join]
Where can I learn more?
See the Guide to the Mangrove Breakthrough Project Pipeline for full details.