Why are mangrove forests so critical for ocean health?
Mangroves store up to four times more carbon per hectare than most tropical rainforests.
The answer
Mangrove forests, found along tropical and subtropical coastlines, are among the most productive and ecologically valuable ecosystems on Earth. Their tangled root systems serve as nursery habitat for up to 75% of commercially caught fish species and protect coastlines from storms, erosion, and tsunamis. Mangroves sequester carbon at rates three to five times higher than terrestrial forests, storing much of it in deep sediment layers that remain stable for millennia. Despite their importance, the world has lost over 35% of its mangrove forests since the 1980s, primarily due to aquaculture, coastal development, and agriculture.
Source: IUCN
- mangroves
- carbon sequestration
- coastal ecosystems
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