Ancient Arabic writings described mangroves as the forests between the sea and the sky. Today, globally, they are being deforested quicker than tropical upland forests. Many mangrove tree species are threatened with outright extinction. With their destruction, the myriad benefits that they provide are also lost. Healthy mangroves provide feeding and nursery grounds for many coral reef fish species, they support commercially valuable fisheries, are a sustainable source of timber, and protect coastal communities against tropical storms. Mangrove wetlands also have an extraordinary power to absorb and store carbon dioxide, making them crucial in mitigating climate change.
Garth Cripps
Conservationist and photographer at large in Madagascar