The subject of mangroves comes up frequently when I show homes that have them along the waterfront, such as the Gulf Access properties in Harbor West, Florida. It is estimated by experts that half of the world’s mangroves have been lost in the past 50 years because of pollution, habitat destruction, and coastal development. Knowing the facts about mangroves can go a long way to helping the preservation and appreciation of them! Here are a few of the top benefits of the mangroves, and more research is being done to showcase the importance of these intricate ecosystems around the globe. Let's educate and inform ourselves about mangroves, especially as we approach July 26, the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. #mangroves #conservation #coastalliving #exploregulfcoastflorida #liveloveparadise.
The beauty and benefits of the mangroves include:
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They can store carbon exponentially more than other types of "forests"
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They are highly salt-tolerant making them strong survivors in changing coastal environments and perhaps most important to homeowners in our SW Florida coastal communities.
- Mangroves offer coastal communities a natural defense against the full impacts of storms.
It is known that the roots of mangrove trees stabilize coastal soils, reducing erosion and flood levels during storms, while forests buffer shorelines from the full impact of waves. This is an important consideration when looking at coastal living here in SW Florida and highlights the importance of our mangrove barriers.
A study was published in 2020 in the journal Scientific Reports which found that mangroves provide an estimated $65 billion in flood defense globally. Read more at pewtrusts.org courtesy of Stacy Baez, Ph.D.
