OnthecoastofBrazilliethelongestcontinuousmangroveforests.Theseareamongthemostunspoiledmangroveforests.Treesherearemorethan40 meters(131feet)highandcanstoretwiceasmuchcarboninthesoilthanthenearbyAmazon rainforest.

Mangrovesteemwithlife.Crabs,fishes,birds,andinsectsfindfoodandhomeshere.Oneofthemoststrikingmangrovebirdsisthescarlet ibis.

You’llalsofindshipwormshere.Theyaren’tasattractiveastheibis,buttheyareincrediblyimportantbecausetheyeatdeadwoodonmangrovetrees.Thencrabsandfisheseattheworms.Thishelpstransfernutrientsfromonelivingthingtoanotherandkeepsthemangroveshealthy.Forthepeoplewholivehere,thesewetlandsarecriticalforthefisheries,timber,andother materials.

Asclimatechangeincreases,weseeclearlyhowmangrovesalsoprotectusfromnaturalhazards,suchasstorms.Mangrovesformalivingbarrierthatshelterspeopleand wildlife.

Sealevelsarerising.Stormsaregettingstrongerandmoredamagingtocoasts.Mangrovesabsorbtheshockofthestorms.Theyreducetheimpactofthewavesandhigh winds.

Mangrovesalsotrapcarbon.Thedenserootsofmangroveshelptobindandbuildsoil.Theabovegroundrootsslowdownwaterflows,whichreduceserosion.Likemostwetlands,mangrovessufferfromhumandevelopment.Wemustlearntoprotectmangrovesinreturnforthemprotecting us.