About
the Mangroves
One of the
first things that you will notice is a sulphur like smell,
this is due to the concentration of organic material,
such as leaves, soil and the fact that the mangrove plants
breathe using the roots which stick out of the water.
The water in the area of mangrove plants is not harmful
to people in any way and in fact they represent one of
the three most productive ecosystems in maintaining global
balance.
How Global
Balance is Maintained by Mangroves:
- Leaves which
fall into the water provide food for many tiny animals
which in turn provide food for fish.
- Roots of
the mangroves provide protected nursery areas for fishes,
crustaceans and shell fish.
-
Roots act as attachment surfaces for many marine organisms.
-
Roots and trunks break the force of the waves in storms
and protect the land and those living there. They also
provide protection from high winds.
-
Mangroves serve as a nesting area for coastal birds.
-
Mangroves provide an important source of food for coastal
people: crabs, clams, oysters, fish to name a few.
-
Mangroves benefit communities in other way too; by providing
medicines, wood for fuel and building materials.
-
When waste from cities runs into a mangrove area it is
taken up and used by the plants and animals and therefore
filtered and left clean, which in turn means fish and
other food sources are left free from contamination.
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