Mangroves

Mangroves are highly productive coastal-marine ecosystems that support the estuarine food chain and play a fundamental role in the lives of about 70% of marine organisms. These forests provide ecosystem services valued at at least $1.6 billion annually and support coastal communities. In Latin America and the Caribbean, most mangroves have some form of protection, representing 72% of the mangrove area in South America. This exceeds the global percentage of protected mangrove areas, which is 42%.