Along tropical and subtropical shorelines, trees and shrubs specially adapted to salt water form dense intertidal forests. These are mangroves. Their prop roots and pneumatophores allow them to stand in soft, oxygen-poor sediments and to exchange gases with the atmosphere.

Mangrove forests stabilize coastlines, trap sediments, and reduce wave energy during storms. They provide nursery habitat for fish and crustaceans, support terrestrial wildlife, and store large amounts of carbon in their waterlogged soils. Local communities have long relied on mangroves for timber, fuel, and coastal protection.

Despite their value, mangroves have been widely cleared for aquaculture, agriculture, and urban development. Restoration projects now attempt to reverse some of the loss, with varying success depending on hydrology and community involvement. Climate change brings both the threat of sea-level rise and the possibility of poleward expansion where temperature allows. Healthy mangrove forests remain one of the most effective natural defenses for tropical coasts.

• Salt-tolerant trees forming intertidal forests
• Protect shorelines and store carbon
• Serve as nurseries for marine species
• Threatened by clearing and sea-level rise