Some people don't like mangroves, regarding them as muddy, mosquito and crocodile infested swamps. In the past their removal was seen as a sign of progress. So what is the point of preserving them? For a start, an estimated 75 percent of fish caught commercially spend some time in the mangroves or are dependent on food chains which can be traced back to these coastal forests.
Mangroves also protect the coast by absorbing the energy of storm driven waves and wind. The only two yachts undamaged by Cyclone Tracey in Darwin in 1974 had sheltered in a mangrove creek. While providing a buffer for the land on one side, mangroves also interact with the sea on the other. Sediments trapped by roots prevent silting of adjacent marine habitats where cloudy water might cause corals to die. In addition, mangrove plants and sediments have been shown to absorb pollution, including heavy metals.Worldwide, vast tracts of mangroves have been destroyed so we are lucky to have relatively large areas......
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