Mangroves – the coastal forests fighting climate change

Mangrove populations grow differently

Few plant species can survive in saltwater, nevertheless, mangroves are highly adaptable with over 80 known different species.

They are found in open sea, sheltered regions, or inland riverbanks where saltwater concentrations vary. They achieve this by filtering the salt from their tissues or blocking it from entering entirely.

Seventy-five percent of the world’s mangrove forests exist in just 15 ocean-bordered countries. Indonesia holds the largest mangrove forests, followed by Brazil, Australia, India, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and Australia.

Human interference is the biggest threat to these mangrove populations, where the clearing of forests occurs to make room for aquaculture – particularly for fish pods and shrimp farming.

The process of removing mangroves releases large quantities of carbon back into the atmosphere, which is occurring on a scale that has seen Indonesia lose almost half of its mangrove population in the last 30 years.

Mangrove restoration projects are taking place in many areas, such as Tampa Bay and Southern China. Some efforts have failed, but if these projects are conducted with proper guidance that factors in adequate hydrology, they have proven to be successful.

Mangroves are migrating

Interestingly, if we leave them be, mangroves won’t need our help all that much.

Scientists are discovering new forest populations in the northern regions of Florida – areas they weren’t previously expected to thrive. Mangroves drop floating seeds into the ocean, which are then carried by strong ocean currents. Heavy storms assist in helping the seeds travel exceptionally far distances.

It is suspected that the warming of waters combined with the absence of frigid winters in northern regions are responsible for mangrove seeds creeping up the coast and finding their roots in new areas. As global temperatures continue to rise, it’s likely this process will continue slowly but surely.

A simple look at the carbon figures prove that the need to protect mangrove forests is essential, especially in the face of reports that the practice of tree planting on land isn’t the carbon warrior we thought.

The good news is, as mangroves stay true to their nature by adapting to live wherever the climate allows, we can rely on them to protect us from the carbon crisis – if we allow them to.