Especial Mangrove Articles and Conservation
Because we operate an ecological tour in Costa Rica, we believe you will appreciate to have a little extra information about the mangroves and its importance in the global ecosystems.
Here you will find a special fundation, that helps to conservate and grow the mangroves all over the world, even tough Costa Rica has a special policie about mangroves, in Cambute Tours we believe that mangroves are important everywhere, so please take a minute to learn more about the mangrove importance and how much the world need them.
Help MAP Mangrove Action Proyect, click here to visit them
Mangrove forests are one of the most productive and biodiverse wetlands on earth. Yet, these unique coastal tropical forests are among the most threatened habitats in the world. They may be disappearing more quickly than inland tropical rainforests, and so far, with little public notice. Growing in the intertidal areas and estuary mouths between land and sea, mangroves provide critical habitat for a diverse marine and terrestial flora and fauna. Healthy mangrove forests are key to a healthy marine ecology.
However, in many areas of the world, mangrove deforestation is contributing to fisheries declines, degradation of clean water supplies, salinization of coastal soils, erosion, and land subsidence, as well as the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In fact, mangrove forests fix more carbon dioxide per unit area than phytoplankton in tropical oceans.
Mangrove forests once covered 3/4 of the coastlines of tropical and sub-tropical countries. Today, less than 50% remain, and of this remaining forest, over 50% is degraded and not in good form. There needs be greater protection on primary or high quality mangrove sites knowing that the total remaining area will continue to decrease.
Many factors contribute to mangrove forest loss, including the charcoal and timber industries, urban growth pressures, and mounting pollution problems. However, one of the most recent and significant causes of mangrove forest loss in the past decade has been the consumer demand for luxury shrimp, or "prawns", and the corresponding expansion of destructive production methods of export-oriented industrial shrimp aquaculture. Vast tracts of mangrove forests have been cleared to make way for the establishment of coastal shrimp farm facilities. The failure of national governments to adequately regulate the shrimp industry, and the headlong rush of multilateral lending agencies to fund aquaculture development without meeting their own stated ecological and social criteria, are other important pieces to this unfortunate puzzle.
More Mangrove Action Project Information
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Mangrove Fieldguide by Oceanoasis, click here to visit them
Mangrove wetlands provide habitat and also prime nesting and migratory sites for hundreds of bird species. Mangroves support extensive coastal food webs, provide shoreline stability and erosion prevention, and storm protection. Mangrove forests literally live in two worlds at once, acting as the interface between land and sea. The mangroves act as buffers and catch sediment and alluvial materials, thus stabilizing land elevation by promoting sediment buildup in tidal areas. Vital coral reefs and sea grass beds are also protected from damaging siltation due to the filtering effects of Mangrove forests.
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History of Mangroves by SEACAMP ASSOCIATION, INC , click here to visit them
Humans are fascinated with the oceans and their respective coastlines. It is no surprise that records dating back over 2000 year show study of mangroves. The majority of this early study probably focuses on the use of these extraordinary trees and shrubs. Observations by early explorers and settlers not only focus on the trees themselves, but of the associated species of wildlife that inhabit these productive communities.
Bark is used as a source of tannins and dyes. Mangroves produce durable and water resistant wood used in houses, boats, pilings, fence posts and furniture. Dense Black mangrove and Buttonwood wood is used in charcoal production. The fruits may be eaten. Leaves are used as source of tea, medicine, and livestock feed. The flowers are used in the honey industry. Leaves can also be dried and smoked as a substitute for tobacco. Other than mangrove honey production most direct uses are destructive.
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Why the World needs its Mangroves by Jessica Hayes-Conroy, click here to visit them
"One perceives a forest of jagged, gnarled trees protruding from the surface of the sea, roots anchored in deep, black, foul smelling mud, verdant crowns arching toward a blazing sun...Here is where land and sea intertwine, where the line dividing ocean and continent blurs, in this setting the marine biologist and the forest ecologist both must work at the extreme reaches of their discipline."
The place so beautifully and truthfully described in the quote above is known in general terms as a mangal or a mangrove forest. Such ecosystems are a type of wooded coastal wetland found along the shores of the tropics all over the globe. They are at the interface between marine and terrestrial worlds, providing large benefits to both locations. Although mangroves are naturally hardy, having developed unique adaptations to survive in such an environment, recent exploitation by human processes threatens to destroy them beyond repair. In turn, this destruction would also be extremely harmful for all of the natural and human systems that are dependant on these mangroves. Thus, mangroves are not only unique ecosystems in and of themselves, but they are also uniquely linked to the many systems that surround them; for these reasons, mangroves should be protected.
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