Our Silent Saviour – Mangroves

What are mangroves?

Mangroves are trees or shrubs that grow in marshy or swamp-like areas that range from freshwater to saltwater. These areas are typically low in dissolved oxygen and the water moves very slowly. In Trinidad and Tobago, there are 8 species of mangroves that can be found at the Caroni Swamp, Nariva Swamp and 43 other locations throughout the length and breadth of our islands. It is estimated that we have 7,000 hectares of mangrove left in Trinidad and Tobago.

Figure 1: showing Mangroves in Caroni Swamp (Shutterstock 2021)

Why are mangroves important?

I am sure we have seen or heard something about mangrove conservation, but why should we conserve the mangrove we have left? To answer this question, we dive into the many ways that our mangroves protect us and our wildlife.

Firstly, mangroves act as our first line of defence when it comes to oceanic waves. When the seas are rough or there is a tsunami coming our way, the mangroves’ dense and complex root system will reduce the momentum of the waves thereby protecting us inland from the rough ocean conditions. It also protects the coast from erosion. Waves can be very destructive, “eating away” at the coasts of our islands, however with the mangroves there to reduce the wave action, it protects and safeguards the coast from weathering away.

Figure 2: showing how mangroves reduce wave action
Secondly, mangroves act as a nursery for thousands of species of marine life and provide habitats for hundreds of terrestrial species. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on marine life. The calm shallow waters mean that it is difficult for larger predators to come in to feed on juvenile animals, which makes it the ultimate nesting ground. It provides protection that is unavailable in the open ocean. The mangrove itself is full of nutrients that young marine animals would need to survive. Now you may think, how could a saltwater animal survive in a freshwater environment? The truth is that mangroves usually consist of Brackishwater (a mixture of saltwater and freshwater). The salinity (saltiness) of the water will increase in areas closer to the sea and decrease in areas further inland. This means that the animals could choose a location with a salinity that best suits their needs.

Figure 3: showing Shark pups in a mangrove environment (The Conversation 2021)

Thirdly, mangroves are one of the best in the world when it comes to Carbon Sequestration. Carbon Sequestration refers to the removal of carbon from the earth. Mangroves around the world sequestered approximately 24 billion tons of carbon each year and stores it in its leaves, branches and soil, which is essential to our fight against Climate Change.  We need to protect our mangroves to protect our future.

 

Figure 4: showing the comparison between mangroves and a terrestrial tree in carbon sequestration (Earth 2020)

What do you think we can do to protect our mangroves?

Drop your suggestions below in the comments. I cannot wait to hear your suggestions. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Manatees in Trinidad and Tobago

Image
What are Manatees? Manatees, though they live in water, are classified as mammals because they come up to the surface every three to five minutes to get oxygen through their nostrils. In the Caribbean, we have the West Indian Manatee (Latin Name: Trichechus Manatus), also known as the ‘Sea Cow’. These gentle giants can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh up to 1200 pounds. Their diet consists of seagrasses and small invertebrates, consuming up to 15% of their body weight in vegetation. It is believed that the lack of predators in Trinidad and Tobago allows our Manatees to live up to sixty (60) years. Figure 1: showing a manatee floating (WNW Press Release 2021) What is the Status of our Manatees? In Trinidad, the Nariva Swamp is the most well-known habitat for manatees. However, based on an evaluation by UNEP/CEP in 1995, they determined that the manatee population consisted of twenty-five (25) to thirty (30) individuals in total. At that time the trend was that the population was de...
Read more

Trinidad White-fronted Capuchin

Image
  Their Status: In Trinidad and Tobago there are a wide variety of mammals that live here unlike any other island. Our islands lie the closest to South America meaning that we have both continental and tropical species of flora and fauna. The White-fronted Capuchin is a monkey that can be found in many South American countries such as Venezuela (the closest South American country to Trinidad and Tobago), Columbia, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador as well as in Trinidad and Tobago. Each country has its own subset or variation in the species that makes it unique. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature 2008, the Trinidad White-fronted Capuchin was declared as a critically endangered species with a total population size of 61 mature individuals in Trinidad and Tobago. When a species is critically endangered it means that the population size is less than 250 mature individuals. Since being classified as a critically endangered species there has been no furth...
Read more

Deforestation in Trinidad and Tobago

Image
What is deforestation in Trinidad and Tobago? Deforestation is defined as the removal of trees from forested areas across the world. Locally, we have three main forested areas: the Northern range, Central Range in Trinidad, and the Main Ridge in Tobago. It is important to mention that South Trinidad is also largely forested especially in and around the Trinity Hills. These forested areas are constantly under attack by legal and illegal deforestation. Figure 1: showing deforestation in Trinidad (Loop News 2021) Deforestation in Trinidad and Tobago Firstly, not all deforestation is illegal. Companies that require space for infrastructural development can apply to the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) for approval on the project. The EMA can determine the impact that the project would cause on the environment based on the details of the venture. Lumber companies also need to apply for a license before they teardown trees from any area. However, a large portion of the trees ...
Read more