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Mangroves
1. Mangroves are the characteristic littoral plant formations of tropical and subtropical sheltered coastlines. Generally speaking, mangroves are trees and shrubs growing below the high-water level of spring tides. Their root systems are thus regularly inundated with saline water, even though it may be diluted due to freshwater surface run-offs and only flooded once or twice a year. Mangroves depend on terrestrial and tidal waters for their nourishment, and on coastal soils and silt deposits from upland erosion as substrate for support.
2. Mangroves are among the most productive terrestrial ecosystems and are a natural, renewable resource. However, the world's mangroves are beleaguered. Mangroves are losing their habitats as rivers are dammed, their waters diverted and the intertidal zone extensively developed for agriculture or aquaculture and generally dried up.
3. The depletion of mangroves is a cause of serious environmental and economic concern to many developing countries. This stems from the fact that at the interface between the sea and the land, mangroves play a pivotal role in moderating monsoonal tidal floods and in coastal protection. The continuing degradation and depletion of this vital resource will reduce not only terrestrial and aquatic production and wildlife habitats, but more importantly, the environmental stability of coastal forests that provide protection to inland agricultural crops and villages will become seriously impaired.
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Why do mangroves grow in tidal areas?
Mangroves play an important role in moderating monsoonal tidal floods.
Mangroves are trees and shrubs growing below the high-water level of spring tides.
Mangroves are losing their habitats as rivers are dammed and their waters diverted.
Mangroves depend on terrestrial as well as tidal waters for their nourishment.
