Mangroves

• Mangroves are tropical forests dominated by halophytic trees living in inter-tidal areas with saline water
• They are adapted to saline, anaerobic and stormy conditions
• Intertidal habitats have extremes in temperatures and water availability
• They have high biodiversity as many species are able to colonise
• Mangroves provide coastal erosion protection due to the vegetation absorbing the energy of the waves, reducing storm or hurricane impacts
• Mangroves are important for fisheries they provide important nursery grounds for fish
• The dense roots protect young fish from predators
• Mangroves are important for the protection of coral reefs, they cause a slower current causing the water to deposit suspended soil which could potentially harm coral reefs
• Mangroves are important for resources such as timber for construction
• They are important for medicinal resources, they can be used in herbal medicines and research into medicine for antibiotic resistant diseases
• Growth of human population has also meant expansion of economic developments, this can damage the mangroves
• Climate change poses a threat, change in conditions cab be outside of the mangroves tolerance hence killing or damaging them
• A conservation effort can be deeming these areas as designated protection areas
• Conservation effort is natural recolonisation in areas where mangroves have been lost
• Replanting is a conservation effort for mangroves
• Natural regeneration can occur due to the mangroves seeds germinating before they reach the ground