Mangroves: Unique Forests by the Sea

Mangrove in Panama Mangrove forests consist of a unique community of trees and shrubs that grow in salty coastal habitats of the tropics and subtropics, forming the boundary between land and sea.

Mangrove forests have been considered wastelands and often used as dumping grounds. However, more recently scientists and others have realized that mangroves are vital coastal ecosystems that provide many benefits to both people and wildlife. For instance, dead leaves that fall from mangrove branches provide important nutrients to many marine organisms. Moreover, several of the animals that rely on mangrove forests for food and shelter, such as fish, shrimp, crabs, and clams, are crucial sources of food for poor people of coastal tropical regions, especially in Central America. Not only do mangroves provide habitat for marine organisms, mangrove forests are also home to a wide diversity of mammals, birds, insects, amphibians, and reptiles. Plus, mangrove forests act as a natural water filter by intercepting land-derived nutrients and pollutants before they can contaminate deeper seawater. And mangrove forests help to prevent coastal erosion by stabilizing soil and sediment.

While these forests have proven to be essential to animals and humans alike, they have been severely threatened by humans. At least 35% of the area of mangrove forests has been lost in the past two decades - losses that exceed those for tropical rain forests and coral reefs, two other well-known threatened environments. In fact, there has been an annual loss of 3,000 km² of mangrove forests along shorelines around the world since the 1980s - that's an area about the size of Rhode Island each year! Losses in the Americas are even higher: 75% of Panama's mangrove forests, for example, were lost between 1980 and 1990.

There are several human-induced factors causing the destruction and degradation of mangrove forests. Mangrove forests have been cut down for firewood and charcoal by rural people, as well as cleared for coastal development and agriculture. Additionally, mangrove forests have been negatively impacted by pollution from agricultural runoff and oil spills, killing the plants and animals that rely on these habitats.

The destruction of mangrove forests threatens millions of people and marine organisms that are either directly or indirectly dependent on these forests for their lives. But you can help!

Help EcoLogic work with coastal communities to protect and restore these unique forests by the sea.
Read about EcoLogic's project in Panama to save mangroves and ensure clean water for the local communities.
Spread the word about the need for mangrove conservation.