Mangroves are small trees that grow in tropical and subtropical coastal areas in saline or brackish water. Mangove forests are extremely important ecosystems which provide habitat for a large number of marine and terrestrial species. Many fish and shellfish are completely dependant on these habitats for breeding and hatching.
Unfortunately many of these ecosystems are now threatened by exploitation and urbanisation of coastal areas and several mangove species are listed as vulnerable or endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Thung Yee Pheng Mangrove Forest, Koh Lanta, Thailand
© Paul Josefsson
