Mangroves:
11 facts you need to know
These unique trees lead tough lives — but we’re all the better for it.
What are mangroves? Mangroves are tropical trees that thrive in conditions most timber could never tolerate — salty, coastal waters, and the interminable ebb and flow of the tide. With the ability to store vast amounts of carbon, mangrove forests are key weapons in the fight against climate change, but they are under threat worldwide. By protecting mangroves, we can help protect the future of our planet.
Share these facts about mangroves and help make a difference.
Mangroves can be a bit salty
Mangroves are the only species of trees in the world that can tolerate saltwater. Their strategy for dealing with otherwise toxic levels of salt? Excrete it through their waxy leaves. Tweet this fact »
Mangroves come in a variety of sizes
Though estimates vary, there are at least 50 — and maybe up to 110 — mangrove species, ranging in height from 2 to 10 meters, but all species feature oblong or oval-shaped leaves and share an affinity for brackish habitats. Tweet this fact »
Fish flock to mangroves
Mangroves, specifically the underwater habitat their roots provide, offer critical nursing environments for juveniles of thousands of fish species, from 1-inch gobies to 10-foot sharks. Tweet this fact »
Mangroves live on the edge
Mangrove forests can be found on the saltwater coasts of 118 tropical and subtropical countries, totaling more than 137,000 square kilometers (85,000 square miles) — roughly the size of Greece or Arkansas. Tweet this fact »
Indonesia tops the worldwide list
The largest amount of mangrove coverage can be found in Indonesia, where mangrove trees cover some 23,000 square kilometers (about 14,000 square miles) — that’s more than twice the size of Jamaica or roughly the size of Vermont. Tweet this fact »
Grow with us
Florida mangroves prefer the southern coast
The United States has roughly 2,500 square kilometers (about 1,500 square miles) of mangroves — an area about the size of Luxembourg — located almost entirely in southern Florida. Tweet this fact »
Mangroves have (carbon) hoarding issues
Blue carbon ecosystems (mangroves, sea grasses and salt marshes) can be up to 10 times more efficient than terrestrial ecosystems at absorbing and storing carbon long term, making them a critical solution in the fight against climate change. Tweet this fact »
Mangroves can help keep people safe
Mangrove forests — specifically, their thick, impenetrable roots — are vital to shoreline communities as natural buffers against storm surges, an increasing threat in a changing global climate with rising sea levels. Tweet this fact »
There’s trouble in Myanmar
Mangroves are under threat nearly everywhere, but the problem is particularly acute in Myanmar, where the rate of deforestation is four times the global average. Tweet this fact »
Shrimping is a jumbo problem
In Thailand, Mexico and Indonesia, mangroves are often cut down to make room for temporary shrimp pens. But once the pens have been removed, the accumulated biowaste renders the water too toxic for most forms of life. Tweet this fact »
It’s better to revitalize than replant
Mangroves’ dense root systems inhibit the flow of tidal water and encourage the deposition of nutrient-rich sediments. But once lost, mangroves are very difficult to replant due to shifts in the very sediments the roots helped keep in place. Tweet this fact »
Our Solutions
Conservation International is an active partner in the Global Mangrove Alliance, an organization of technical experts, policy makers and non-governmental organizations dedicated to promoting mangrove conservation and regrowth.
The Alliance’s strategy aims to increase the extent of global mangrove habitats by 20 percent by 2030, an ambitious target that will pay dividends for climate change mitigation, biodiversity and the well-being of coastal communities around the world.
In addition to its work with the Alliance, Conservation International works with local communities to protect and revitalize mangrove ecosystems in Indonesia, where logging, mining and commercial development place critical mangrove habitats at risk. As part of this effort, Conservation International has collaborated with policy makers in Indonesia’s West Papua province to establish firm conservation guidelines, including the placement of 30 percent of coastal waters in marine protected areas and the elimination of threats for 100 percent of the provinces mangrove habitats.
