What is a mangrove forest?

Mangrove forests grow in the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical coastlines, where most trees could never survive because of the salty, oxygen-poor, waterlogged soil. Mangrove trees have remarkable adaptations, including tangled stilt-like roots that anchor them in soft mud and specialised roots that stick up to breathe air, plus mechanisms to filter or excrete excess salt. These dense root systems trap sediment, protect coasts from erosion and storm surges, and create sheltered nurseries where countless fish, crabs, and birds live and breed. Mangroves are also powerful carbon sinks, storing large amounts of carbon in their soils. Sadly, many mangrove forests are threatened by coastal development and aquaculture.