Excerpt from pew.org
July 26 is International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, a moment to celebrate one of the most essential coastal ecosystems on the planet.
In Jamaica, mangroves are more than just a line of defense against rising seas and stronger storms. They are also lifelines for biodiversity and local livelihoods, and they draw down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and sequester the carbon in soils. Mangroves’ dense root systems act as natural barriers, absorbing wave energy and significantly reducing the effects of floods and storm surges. At the same time, mangroves are nurseries for countless marine species that fuel ocean biodiversity and support local fishing, tourism, and other vital economic activity. These ecosystems also store up to five times as much carbon as terrestrial forests, which, if left undisturbed, can remain locked away for millennia."