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Could Mangroves Help Save The World
Could Mangroves Help Save The World
Mangrove forests, found at the edge of tropical and subtropical coastlines, are nutrient-rich
breeding grounds for myriad species. Fish, birds, mammals and reptiles can all be found
here – and the maze of twisted, stilted tree roots protects against predators, making them
ideal nurseries. From Everglades National Park in Florida, which is home to threatened
species of birds and amphibians, to the Australian mangroves where over 100 species of
molluscs are found, to the Caribbean mangroves where rare green sea turtles dwell, these
sea forests provide a critical habitat for many species.
Mangroves provide a formidable defence too against events such as storms and tsunamis.
With the climate changing, severe weather events are becoming more frequent and sea
levels are rising. Using mangroves as sea defences is five times more cost-effective than
man-made alternatives. They are also vital in the battle against climate change itself.
Mangrove ecosystems are powerful carbon sinks, sucking up carbon dioxide from the air to
store in their roots and branches. Impressively, they can absorb up to four times more
carbon than a rainforest the same size, and because they are submerged under tidal water
when they die, the carbon is buried with them. But despite all the good that they do,
mangrove forests are under threat from humans. Globally, 35% have been lost over the past
40 years and they are being razed faster than tropical rainforests.
Terjemahan :
Mangrove juga memberikan pertahanan yang tangguh terhadap peristiwa seperti badai dan
tsunami. Dengan perubahan iklim, peristiwa cuaca buruk menjadi lebih sering dan
permukaan air laut naik. Menggunakan mangrove sebagai pertahanan laut lima kali lebih
hemat biaya daripada alternatif buatan manusia. Mereka juga penting dalam pertempuran
melawan perubahan iklim itu sendiri. Ekosistem mangrove adalah penyerap karbon yang
kuat, menyedot karbon dioksida dari udara untuk disimpan di akar dan cabangnya. Secara
mengesankan, mereka dapat menyerap karbon hingga empat kali lebih banyak daripada
hutan hujan dengan ukuran yang sama, dan karena mereka tenggelam di bawah air pasang
saat mereka mati, karbon tenggelam bersama mereka. Namun terlepas dari semua hal baik
yang mereka lakukan, hutan mangrove berada di bawah ancaman manusia. Secara global,
35% telah hilang selama 40 tahun terakhir dan mereka dihancurkan lebih cepat daripada
hutan hujan tropis.