Mangroves are trees that grow on the shores, rivers and estuaries of tropical and subtropical land masses. They are a unique species that can grow in far saltier conditions than other plants by filtering and excreting salt to provide fresh water for photosynthesis.
The greatest mangrove diversity in the world can be found in South-east Asia, with one third of this in Malaysia alone. Mangroves provide refuge, and act as nurseries and feeding grounds for entire food chains, from commercially important fish to wading birds, monitor lizards and even crocodiles.
Not only are they great habitats for the creatures, they also supply ecosystem services to people living nearby. These services are vital to local communities whose livelihoods directly or indirectly rely on healthy mangrove systems, which have an estimated economic value of US$194,000 per hectare of mangrove every year.
