SafePlants

Mangroves: Coastal Guardians

Mangroves are trees or shrubs adapted to thrive in coastal saline or brackish water environments. The term "mangrove" also broadly refers to the tropical coastal vegetation comprised of these specialized plant species.

Distribution and Habitat

• Mangroves are predominantly found in tropical and subtropical regions, generally within 30 degrees of the equator.
• They flourish on tropical coasts with soft, waterlogged, salty soils in sheltered areas.
• These plants commonly inhabit intertidal zones like estuaries and marine shorelines, which are flooded twice daily by tides.

Ecological Role

• Mangrove forests are highly productive ecosystems, supporting a wealth of life.
• They play a critical role in transferring organic matter and energy from the land to marine ecosystems through detritus.
• They provide safe havens for various animal species, including shorebirds, crab-eating monkeys, and fishing cats.

Morphological Characteristics

• Mangrove forests consist of diverse salt-tolerant tree and shrub species.
• They range in size from small shrubs to tall trees reaching tens of meters in height.
• Mangroves are known for their ability to survive in unstable soil and inundation by saltwater.

Conservation Status

• Mangrove forests are facing significant losses globally, with over 35% already gone.
• The degradation is even more severe in countries like India, the Philippines, and Vietnam, where losses reach up to 50%.

Further Information

• The Mangrove Action Project is dedicated to reversing the degradation and loss of mangroves.
• The International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems maintains a searchable database of scientific literature related to mangroves.