5 reasons to protect

mangrove forests for the

future

Explore the latest strategic trends, research and analysis

To the uninitiated, mangroves might appear to be merely coastal cousins of inland forests,
but these rich ecosystems support the planet and people in unique ways, from providing
breeding grounds for fish to carbon storage, to protection against flooding.

Yet despite their importance, mangrove forests are under threat. Over a third have already
disappeared, and in regions such as the Americas they are being cleared at a faster rate
than tropical rainforests.
Much of that clearance is to reclaim land for agriculture, industrial development and
infrastructure projects.

In addition to climate change and pollution, there are also local threats. These include
overharvesting of wood for fuel and construction, dams and irrigation that reduce the flow
of water reaching the forests, and overfishing causing disruption to food chains and fish
communities.

Image: Joel Vodell/Unsplash

We are destroying a coastal ecosystem that helps sustain life and livelihoods. Here are
five of the many reasons we should be doing much more to preserve mangrove forests.

1. They are a natural coastal defense

The sturdy root systems of mangrove trees help form a natural barrier against violent
storm surges and floods. River and land sediment is trapped by the roots, which protects
coastline areas and slows erosion. This filtering process also prevents harmful sediment
reaching coral reefs and seagrass meadows.
 In 2017, the UN Ocean Conference estimated that nearly 2.4 billion people live within 100
km of the coast. Mangroves provide valuable protection for communities at risk from sea-
level rises and severe weather events caused by climate change.

2. They are carbon sinks

Coastal forests help the fight against global warming by removing carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere, most of which is stored within the plant. When mangrove tree roots,
branches and leaves die they are usually covered by soil, which is then submerged under
tidal water, slowing the breakdown of materials and boosting carbon storage.

Research shows that coastal mangroves outperform most other forests in their capacity to
store carbon. An examination of 25 mangrove forests across the Indo-Pacific region found
that per hectare, they held up to four times more carbon than other tropical rainforests.

3. They provide livelihoods

Many people living in and around mangroves depend on them for their livelihood. The
trees are a reliable source of wood for construction and fuel, which is prized for its hardy
resistance to both rot and insects. However, in some areas, the wood has been harvested
commercially for pulp, wood chip and charcoal, raising concerns about sustainability.

Plant extracts are collected by locals for their medicinal qualities and the leaves of
mangrove trees are often used for animal fodder.

The forest waters provide local fishermen with a rich supply of fish, crabs and shellfish to
sell for income.

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4. They encourage ecotourism

Sustainable tourism offers a stimulus to preserve existing mangrove areas, with potential
to generate income for local inhabitants.

Often located near to coral reefs and sandy beaches, the forests provide a rich
environment for activities like sports fishing, kayaking and birdwatching tours.

Of course, it is important to maintain a balance between visitor numbers and protecting

the forests’ delicate ecosystem.
If held at sustainable levels, ecotourism could provide the perfect motivation to protect
mangroves, instead of clearing them for mass tourism developments.

5. They are rich in biodiversity

Human activity has caused huge biodiversity loss in land and marine ecosystems around
the globe, endangering many plant and animal species.

By filtering coastal waters, mangroves form a nutrient-rich breeding ground for numerous
species that thrive above and below the waterline.

A huge variety of wildlife lives or breeds in the mangrove ecosystem, including numerous
fish, crab and shrimp species, molluscs, and mammals like sea turtles. The trees are
home to an array of nesting, breeding and migratory birds. When mangrove forests are
cleared valuable habitat is lost, threatening the survival of myriad species.

But that’s not the whole story. The forests are also a potential source of undiscovered
biological materials that could benefit mankind, such as antibacterial compounds and
pest-resistant genes, which are also lost when coastal areas are cleared.

Land clearance of mangrove areas and other forests like the Amazon has had a major
impact on different species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN)
Red List shows that of 68,574 species of invertebrates, 8,374 were on the brink of
extinction.

Protecting natural ecosystems like mangrove forests not only helps preserve biodiversity,
it also helps preserve a vital resource for local communities.

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Why Mangroves Matter

MANGROVES: THE ROOTS OF THE SEA
COLLECT
"If there are no mangrove forests, then the sea will have no meaning. It is like
having a tree with no roots, for the mangroves are the roots of the
sea."— fisherman, Trang Province, southern Thailand

AMNH

Mangrove forests were once generally dismissed as swampy wastelands.

Planners, scientists, and coastal dwellers have now come to value them as the
remarkably diverse and important ecosystems they are. Mangroves, seagrass
beds, and coral reefs work as a single system that keeps coastal zones healthy.
Mangroves provide essential habitat for thousands of species. They also stabilize
shorelines, preventing erosion and protecting the land — and the people who live
there — from waves and storms.

Keystone of a coastal ecosystem

Mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs are often found together and work in
concert. The trees trap sediment and pollutants that would otherwise flow out to
sea. Seagrass beds provide a further barrier to silt and mud that could smother
the reefs. In return, the reefs protect the seagrass beds and mangroves from
strong ocean waves. Without mangroves, this incredibly productive ecosystem
would collapse.

"Mangroves are like the kindergarten, seagrasses are the secondary schools,
and coral reefs are the high schools and colleges for fishes! And, once [the
fishes] graduate from university, they return to kindergarten to spawn."
— Khun Pisit, cofounder of Thailand's Yad Fon mangrove preservation project

Nursery grounds
Mangroves provide ideal breeding grounds for much of the world's fish, shrimp,
crabs, and other shellfish. Many fish species, such as barracuda, tarpon, and
snook, find shelter among the mangrove roots as juveniles, head out to forage in
the seagrass beds as they grow, and move into the open ocean as adults. An
estimated 75 percent of commercially caught fish spend some time in the
mangroves or depend on food webs that can be traced back to these coastal
forests.

Home to many species

Mangrove forests provide habitat for thousands of species at all levels of marine
and forest food webs, from bacteria to barnacles to Bengal tigers. The trees
shelter insect species, attracting birds which also take cover in the dense
branches. These coastal forests are prime nesting and resting sites for hundreds
of shorebirds and migratory bird species, including kingfishers, herons, and
egrets. Crab-eating macaque monkeys, fishing cats, and giant monitor lizards
hunt among the mangroves, along with endangered species such as olive Ridley
turtles, white breasted sea eagles, tree climbing fish, proboscis monkeys, and
dugongs. And the soft soil beneath mangrove roots enables burrowing species
such as snails and clams to lie in wait. Other species, such as crabs and shrimp,
forage in the fertile mud.

Food for the multitudes

The tons of leaves that fall from each acre of mangrove forest every year are the
basis of an incredibly productive food web. As the leaves decay, they provide
nutrients for invertebrates and algae. These in turn feed many small organisms,
such as birds, sponges, worms, anemones, jellyfish, shrimp, and young fishes.
Tides also circulate nutrients among mudflats, estuaries, and coral reefs, thus
feeding species like oysters that rest on the seabed.

Clean water
Mangroves protect both the saltwater and the freshwater ecosystems they
straddle. The mangroves' complex root systems filter nitrates and phosphates
that rivers and streams carry to the sea. They also keep seawater from
encroaching on inland waterways.

A stable coastline
Mangrove roots collect the silt and sediment that tides carry in and rivers carry
out towards the sea. By holding the soil in place, the trees stabilize shorelines
against erosion. Seedlings that take root on sandbars help stabilize the sandbars
over time and may eventually create small islands.

Shelter from the storm

The thickets of mangroves that buttress tidal mudflats also provide a buffer zone
that protects the land from wind and wave damage. Places where mangroves
have been cut down for shrimp farms are far more vulnerable to destructive
cyclones and tidal waves.

Resources for humans

Mangrove forests provide many of the resources upon which coastal people
depend for their survival and livelihood. At low tide, people can walk across the
tidal flats to collect clams, shellfish, and shrimp. At high tide, fish move in to feed
among the protection of mangrove roots, turning the marshy land into rich fishing
grounds. The mangrove trees themselves provide fuel, medicines, tannins, and
wood for building houses and boats

Mangrove and Coral Reef Ecosystems Coastal ReforestaƟon Technology Habitat

CreaƟon and RestoraƟon Sustainable Development Green Funeral Living
Memorial Coral reef and mangrove ecosystems function in a symbiotic relationship,
which enhances tropical and subtropical coastal environments. The health and
extent of coral reefs are largely dependent on coastal mangrove forests, which
stabilize shorelines, remove pollutants, improve water quality, and provide nursery
habitat that maintain fisheries. If fisheries are degraded due to the destruction or
loss of mangrove habitat, then coral reefs will be adversely affected. Corals are
correlated with the strength of fisheries and without viable fisheries, coral reef
cannot survive. Barrier reefs are coral reefs extending roughly parallel and in close
proximity to the shoreline. They function in reducing surf and shoreline energy.
Together the coral reef and mangrove ecosystems form a barrier that protects
shorelines from the destructive forces of wind, waves and driven debris. These living
structures decrease the erosion and physical damage that can often impose
significant economic and environmental costs on coastal communities. To a large
extent, both help form and shape the shoreline. As essential components in
shoreline protection and coastal resilience, they buffer entire regions against
hydrological forces of the oceans and periodic inclement weather events, such as
hurricanes and tropical storms. The barrier reefs and mangrove forests are also
critical in supporting biodiversity and a range of organisms in marine and littoral
environments. Commercial and recreational fisheries are renewable economic
resources important to indigenous populations and coastal areas for livelihood. A
recent study published in the journal Nature, confirmed that mangrove habitat
provides critical nursery grounds for juvenile coral reef fish. It was also found that
fish species are more abundant on the coral reefs with associated mangrove tidal
wetlands. The monetary value of coral reef fish in commercial harvesting can be
substantial; however, the economic value of the coral reef and mangrove in many
parts of the world is most significant for the recreation and tourism industries. Sport
fishing, boating, snorkeling and scuba diving along with other water sports as-well-
as ecotourism have had a significant impact on converting the economic base of
fishing villages and towns into travel destinations and ecotourism centers with
international appeal. A challenge faced by these transitional communities is in the
balance that must be maintained between construction of the modern
infrastructure needed to accommodate growing populations and the quality of
native habitat. Coastal development and economic expansion can help build
prosperity for local inhabitants but threaten the natural amenities that actually
attract visitors. In order to maintain sustainable ecotourism in the economic base,
there is a need for long-term vision in the conservation and restoration of
surrounding ecosystems required to build resilience and preserve the social-
ecological systems that compose coastal population centers. The following diagram
illustrates the mangrove as nursery grounds and critical habitat in the life cycle of
coral reef fish. mangrove.org® Patented Coastal Reforestation Technology -
mangrove habitat creation, ecosystem restoration, shoreline stabilization &
ecological funeral.
PREFACE i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY iii I. CORAL REEFS –
ECOSYSTEMS AT RISK 1 A. Reefs Are Invaluable Coastal Ecosystems 1 B. Reefs are in Peril 3 C. The Global Response to the
Coral Reef Crisis 4 D. The National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs 5 E. Using This Document 7 F. Constraints on Action
7 II. CORE PRINCIPLES FOR CORAL REEF CONSERVATION 9 III. TAKING ACTION 10 A. Understand Coral Reef Ecosystems 10
1. Map All U.S. Coral Reefs 11 2. Assess and Monitor Reef Health 12 3. Conduct Strategic Research 13 4. Understand The
Human Dimension 16 B. Reduce the Adverse Impacts of Human Activities 17 1. Expand and Strengthen the U.S. Network
Of Coral Reef MPAs 17 2. Reduce Impacts of Extractive Uses 21 3. Reduce Habitat Destruction 23 4. Reduce Pollution 24
5. Restore Damaged Reefs 26 6. Reduce Global Threats to Coral Reefs 27 7. Reduce Impacts from International Trade in
Coral Reef Species 30 8. Improve Governmental Coordination and Accountability 32 9. Create An Informed Public 33
APPENDICES A. Executive Order 13089 - Coral Reef Protecti