Mangroves are unique salt-tolerant trees with interlacing roots that grow in shallow marine sediments. Often they are found just inland of coral reefs. Mangroves provide valuable ecosystem services.
These unique ecosystems are found in intertidal zones of Coastal areas. They grow in warmer tropical and sub-tropical latitudes up to latitudes 30 degrees usually. Thus, these are the coastal wetlands of warmer regions of the planet.
The mangrove vegetation (Halophytic Vegetation) is adapted to grow in brackish waters of intertidal zones, areas with low-oxygen soil. Their roots are the breeding grounds and nurseries for many fish species like shrimp and sea trout. The branches are nesting sites for birds like pelicans, spoonbills, and egrets. They stabilise the soil, prevent erosion, and protect the coast during cyclones. They are more effective than concrete barriers in absorbing wave action.
Despite their importance, mangroves are disappearing due to Deforestation, Climate Change, Pollution and overexploitation with a global loss rate of 1.38% per year. Here are 15 facts about these amazing and unique tidal forests and why it’s so important for our livelihoods to protect and conserve them.
Amazing and Interesting Mangrove Facts
1. Mangrove Forests are the world’s principal stores of Carbon - Mangrove forests are one of the world’s principal stores of Blue Carbon’ , Thus playing a critical role in climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration. A hectare of mangrove forest sequesters up to four times as much carbon as a similar-sized tract of rainforest.
2. Mangroves are Coastal Bio-shields - Mangrove forests provide protection and shelter against extreme weather events and cyclonic storms, hurricanes and tsunamis by reducing their damaging impact on human lives and properties. In areas where mangroves have been cleared coastal damage due to tropical cyclones is very severe.
3. Mangroves are called Foundation Species - The complex root system facilitates the accumulation of organic detritus and inorganic nutrients, thus acting as nursing and breeding grounds for micro-organisms, birds, and marine and coastal species like reptiles and fishes. As mangrove forests provide habitat for many other species, mangroves are also called ‘Foundation Species’.
4. Mangrove forests are rich in biodiversity - Mangrove vegetation is adapted to grow in brackish waters of intertidal zones, areas with low-oxygen soil. Mangrove forests provide a habitat for a wide variety of animal and plant species. They are dynamic areas, rich in food. Live and decaying mangrove leaves and roots provide nutrients that nourish plankton, algae, fish and shellfish.
5. Mangroves are an important source of livelihood - Mangroves act as an important source of livelihood for the coastal communities dependent on the collection of honey, tannins, wax and fishing. These also provide timber, firewood and medicinal products. Research by Barbier (2007) concluded that the economic annual value of just one hectare of mangrove forest is $12,392
6. Mangroves are highly productive ecosystems - Mangrove timber is used as firewood and converted to top-quality charcoal, A Large number of people in Sundarbans depend on forests for fishing, honey collection, wood cutting, and shrimp fry collection. Fish stalks, roof thatching, tobacco wrappers and traditional medicines are made from different plants of mangroves.
7. Mangroves may help protect Coral Reefs - In present times of climate change and increased environmental pollution, coral reefs are being subjected to multiple threats. Marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent with global warming. Highly destructive tropical cyclones are becoming more common. These physically damage coral reefs. Mangrove forests protect coastlines from the damaging effects of wave action during tropical storms, cyclones etc. So mangrove forests have the capability of providing shelter for coral reefs at risk from coral bleaching.
8. Every year 1.38% of the world’s mangroves disappear - Mangroves are disappearing at a global loss rate of 1.38% per year. As per Global Forest Watch (an online forest monitoring platform that relies on satellite data for forest surveys), the world lost 192,000 hectares of mangrove cover from 2001 to 2012. This is a total loss of 1.38% since the year 2000 or 0.13% of loss annually.
9. Mangrove forests prevent soil erosion and stabilising coastlines - Mangrove forests act as zones of land accretion due to trapping of fine sediments thereby arresting soil erosion and stabilising coastlines.
10. Mangroves cover less than 1% of the world’s surface. - Mangroves cover less than 1% of the world’s surface with a total mangrove area of around 150,000 sq km. This is approximately 1% of the tropical forests of the world.
11. Vivipary - A unique way of reproduction of mangroves - Vivipary is a unique way of reproduction of mangroves in saline and little oxygen conditions. Seeds germinate into seedlings while being still attached to the parent tree. They photosynthesize while still attached to the mother tree. The parent tree supplies water and necessary nutrients. They are buoyant and float in the water for some time before rooting themselves on suitable soil.
12. There are 80 different species of mangrove trees - Mangroves are a group of trees, Palms, shrubs, vines and ferns that are adapted to grow in brackish waters of intertidal zones, areas with low-oxygen soil or hypoxic soil. The salt-tolerant mangrove vegetation is called halophytic vegetation.
13. More than 100 tropical and Subtropical countries have mangroves along their coastline - Mangrove forests can be found on the coastline of more than 100 tropical and subtropical countries.
14. Asia has the largest amount of the world’s mangroves. - According to the source (World Atlas of Mangroves, 2010), the total mangrove area of the world is 150,000 Sq. km. This is approximately 1% of the tropical forests of the world. Asia has the largest amount of the world’s mangroves.
15. Aerial Breathing Roots and Stilt Roots are the most common adaptation characteristics of Mangrove vegetation. - The adaptation of mangrove vegetation that allows it to survive in brackish waters are Aerial Breathing Roots(Specialized above-ground roots) which take up oxygen from the atmosphere and Stilt Roots which diverge from stems and branches and penetrate soil some distance away from the main stem. Roots also have many pores through which atmospheric oxygen enters into the roots.
