Mangroves: Much More than trees and shrubs in coastal wetlands.

Mangroves are trees and shrubs that grow in coastal wetlands of tropical and subtropical regions. They are adapted to live in brackish water, the mix of saltwater and freshwater. Mangroves are important not only for coastal ecosystems but also the ecosystem of the world as they provide benefits to the environment and the people economically. Let us explore the importance of mangroves and their significance to the people. 

Environmentally, mangroves can be:

• Storm Protection: mangroves can reduce the impact of tsunamis and storms in the coastal area by acting the natural buffers that absorb wave energy. 
• Biodiversity Support: mangroves are home to a wide range of species of marine and terrestrial area which include birds, reptiles, and fish. 
• Water Filtration: mangroves help improve water clarity and quality because they have dense roots that filter pollutants and sediments.
• Carbon Sequestration: mangroves effectively capture and store carbon dioxide as they have high carbon storage capacity which helps the global goal to reduce climate change.

Economically, mangroves are beneficial for people because:

• Tourism: mangroves forests have potential to attract eco-tourists who value natural beauty and the diversity of coastal ecosystems. This can create economic opportunities for local people through tourism-related activities such as trekking and replanting mangroves trees.
• Fisheries Support: also, they contribute to sustainable fisheries as mangroves forests provide many commercially important shellfish and fish with spots for their nursery grounds and feeding areas. So, it can be said that mangroves help the local fishing communities, economically. 

Mangroves are not just trees and shrubs growing along the coast line. They offer a wide range of environmental and economic benefits not only for the local communities but also for the people around the world in helping mitigate climate change.

Author :
Elisabeth Jakarimilena
Finance Officer at SAGU Foundation