Advanatages

Perhaps the most important role of mangroves is that they protect vulnerable coastlines from wave action because they hold the soil together and prevent coastal erosion. Mangroves shield inland areas during storms and minimize damage. For example, learning from the 2005 tsunami in Asia, there were no deaths in the areas which had mangrove forests, compared to those areas without, which suffered massive causalities. Ecologically speaking, mangroves are exciting systems in their own right. Mangrove forests provide homes for several species of plants and animals. Migratory shorebirds and waders forage the mudflats for food. Birds like the cattle egrets and scarlet ibises establish large roosting and nesting sites in mangroves. Great-Horned Owls, Blood-Coloured Woodpeckers, Antshrikes, Mangrove Cuckoos and Rufous-Crab Hawks are all treats for any avid birdwatcher. Several species of fish, monkeys, and turtles find refuge there. The beaches along more mature undisturbed mangroves also serve as nesting sites for endangered sea turtles. The Leatherback and Green Turtles are most common of the five species found within Guyana . Mangroves are fish nurseries as they serve as a source of food for fish, shrimp and crabs that live in rivers and the shallow areas of the sea/ocean, and provide a safe haven for juvenile fish, shrimp and crab located on Guyana 's coastline. Mangroves therefore contribute significantly to Guyana's fishing industry and provide us with our fish resource. Mangroves break down pollutants and play a large role in carbon sequestration (the capturing and storing of carbon ). Did you know that just one hectare of mangroves is capable of neutralizing 17 metric tonnes of carbon per year? A mature mangrove forest acts as a sediment trap, thereby assisting in the accretion of coastal sediments and further adding to the protection of low-lying inland areas. Usually land grows trees but in the case of mangrove forests trees grow land

Mangroves Defined
A mangrove is a tree, shrub, palm or ground fern, generally exceeding one half metre in height, that normally grows above mean sea level in the intertidal zone of marine coastal environments and estuarine margins. A mangrove is also the tidal habitat comprising such trees and shrubs. The word mangrove refers to the habitat in the same way as we think of rainforest with its mixture of plant types. Sometimes the habitat is called a tidal forest or a mangrove forest to distinguish it from the trees that are also called mangroves.

Importance of Mangroves a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. Buffer Zone between the land and sea. Protect the land from erosion. Play an invaluable role as nature's shield against cyclones, ecological disasters and as protector of shorelines. Breeding and nursery grounds for a variety of marine animals. Harbour a variety of lifeforms like invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and even mammals like tigers. Good source of timber, fuel and fodder. Main source of income generation for shoreline communities like fisherfolk. Save the marine diversity, which is fast diminishing. Purify the water by absorbing impurities and harmful heavy metals and help us to breathe a clean air by absorbing pollutants in the air. Potential source for recreation and tourism.

Why should we protect mangroves?...........

Mangroves, admittedly, are not only important but crucial for the coastal areas. Since estuarine areas are highly populated areas, the slightest ecological imbalance will take a heavy toll. They play a vital role in stabilizing these areas. No engineering and technological solutions can be sought for stabilizing these areas. Even if we negate all benefits of mangroves as forests, their value as "protector of shore-line" is enough to convince us for conserving themMangroves are buffers between the land and the sea. Coastlines throughout the world are facing serious problems of coastal erosion and threat of rising sea levels due to global warming have increased the threats by several folds. To control such assault of the sea on land the nature has provided what is called as Mangroves, a tropical littoral ecosystem which is more dynamic than the sea itself. Mangroves not only help in preventing soil erosion but also act as a catalyst in reclaiming land from seas. This is a very unique phenomenon, since there is a general tendency of water to engulf land. Mangrove forests and estuaries are the breeding and nursery grounds for a number of marine organisms including the commercially important shrimp, crab and fish species. Hence, loss of mangroves not only affects us indirectly but there are direct economic repercussions through loss of fishing industry . Mangrove trees are also used for house building, furniture, transmission as well as telephone poles and certain household items. When these activities are managed appropriately it is possible to derive timber products from mangrove forests without significant environmental degradation, and while maintaining their value as a nursery and a source of food for commercial capture fisheries.In many coastal areas including Gulf of Kutch, mangroves are a substitute for fodder. Thus mangroves reduce pressures from the scarce pasturelands.