What are Mangrove Forests?

Mangroves are shrubs and trees that grow in coastal waters. Mangroves are halophytes, meaning they are salt-tolerant trees that thrive in intertidal conditions. These diverse and productive ecosystems provide essential habitats for species, coastal protection from storms, and livelihood opportunities for coastal communities.

Open
Tags: Biodiversity Blue Carbon Blue Forests Ecosystem Benefits mangroves threats
What are Mangrove Forests?

Related Resources

What Is Blue Carbon and Why Does It Matter?
 Though terrestrial forests typically get most of the attention, they are not the only ecosystems that possess a natural ability to fight climate change. There are three coastal ecosystems that are als[...]
Tags: Blue CarbonBlue ForestsEcosystem Benefitsmangroves
Kelp Deforestation: Threats to our Underwater Forests
 Kelp forests are some of the most dynamic and ecologically productive marine habitats in the world. A root-like system called a holdfast affixes to the rocky seafloor, supporting a long stipe that ext[...]
Tags: Blue ForestsEcosystem BenefitsKelpKelp forests
4 Charts Explain Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Countries and Sectors
 Globally, greenhouse gas emissions have grown by 53% from 1990 to 2019. Where are these emissions coming from, and who is responsible? WRI’s Climate Watch platform offers comprehensive emissions dat[...]
Tags: Carbon EmissionsClimate ChangeGlobal carbon cyclePollution
Marine Life Cycles
 Although at the surface the ocean can appear calm and quiet, in fact there is an enormous amount of life activity taking place, particularly at certain times of the year. [...]
Tags: Blue Forestscoastal and marine ecosystemsocean basicsOcean Literacy
Sustainable development, poverty eradication and reducing inequalities. In: Global warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report
 An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response t[...]
Tags: Climate Changeglobal warmingSociety
A New Generation of Ocean Farmers are Reducing Pollution with Seaweed
 Seaweed soaks up carbon and nitrogen, two pollutants lingering in the water. If ocean farmers devoted a little less than 5 percent of U.S. waters to growing seaweed, they could clean up an estimated 1[...]
Tags: Ecosystem BenefitsKelpPollutionprovisional services
The Biological Productivity of the Ocean
 Productivity fuels life in the ocean, drives its chemical cycles, and lowers atmospheric carbon dioxide. Nutrient uptake and export interact with circulation to yield distinct ocean regimes. [...]
Tags: carbon dioxideocean basicsocean carbon cycleprimary production
Seagrasses, Nature’s Water Filter
 In many systems, vegetated estuarine habitats such as salt marshes and seagrass beds act as a natural water filtration system—where sediment and nutrient-rich water flows in and cleaner water flows [...]
Tags: cultural servicesEcosystem Benefitsprovisional servicesregulating services