It is estimated that almost 20% of mangrove species worldwide are at risk of extinction due to coastal development and other factors such as climate change, illegal logging and agriculture. Of all of them, at least half of the threatened mangrove species are found on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Central America. Next we will talk to you about the importance of these natural areas and the mangrove species at risk of extinction.
The importance of mangroves
It is important to know that mangroves are essential for coastal areas because:
- They protect them from damage caused by tsunamis, erosion and storms.
- In addition, they serve as nurseries for fish and other species that represent sources of local income for a large part of the population.
- At the same time, they have an enormous ability to absorb carbon from the atmosphere.
- They serve as a source of nutrients for other marine habitats, such as sea grasses and coral reefs.
How mangroves form
Mangrove forests tend to grow in places where sea water meets the coast of tropical and subtropical regions, serving as transition zone between marine, terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. These forests generate an enormous amount of ecosystem services annually.
It should be noted two species of mangrove in urgent need of protection:
- Sonneratia griffithii
- The Bruguiera hainesii
Considered critically endangered according to the criteria of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The first is in India and Southeast Asia, where it is estimated that 80% of the total mangrove area has been lost in the last 60 years. While Bruguiera hainesii is an even rarer species, growing only in a few fragmented sites of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, Singapore, and Papua New Guinea. It is estimated that there are less than 250 adult trees of this species, so in a short time it could disappear forever.
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