Life below water

Mangrove forests are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, with a detritus-based food web. The leaf litter and woody matter (detritus) serves as food for marine organisms, making mangroves an important part of the food chain. Mangroves are nursery and breeding ground for fish, between the trees and the dense root system they find food and shelter. Two mechanisms by which they enhance fisheries. The fish either stays temporarily within the mangroves, as part of their life-cycle, or permanently. The deforestation of mangrove forests cause a decline of fish and crayfish stocks (Hutchison et al., 2011).

The loss of mangrove forests has also effects on neighboring ecosystems. So, coral reefs are more susceptible to water pollution without mangroves. Since they retain sediments from land, remove nutrients and pollutants from the water that otherwise reach the sensitive coral reefs (Burke et al., 2011).

Mangroves help maintaining healthy oceans and marine resources.