Mangrove Forests

Introduction

Mangrove forests are one of Florida's most unique and valuable ecosystems. Found in tropical and sub-tropical climates throughout the world, mangrove forests are dense stands of salt-tolerant, coastal hardwood cousins that are endemic to these habitats. There are actually four species of trees that are considered to be mangroves. Each of the four types grows in a separate area along the tidal zone. Red mangroves and black mangroves grow in the wettest areas while white mangroves and buttonwood, or button mangroves, grow in dryer, more upland areas along the coastline. Mangrove forest once covered many thousands of hectares along Florida's coastline but less than 200,000 hectares remain today. Over 90% of these remaining forests are within four South Florida counties: Collier, Dade, Lee, and Monroe. Because these trees are sensitive to cold temperatures, mangrove forests are rarely found farther north than Cedar Key on the Gulf Coast and St. Augustine on the Atlantic Coast. Extensive mangrove forests are found at the southern tip of Florida, including Ten Thousand Islands (150,000 acres), one of the largest mangrove swamps in the world.  Freeze-stunted black mangroves are also found in Louisiana and Texas. The red mangrove was imported from Florida to Hawaii in 1902 where it’s now considered a pest.  

The name mangrove comes from the Portuguese words mangue (tree) and grove (stand of trees). These unique ecosystems are important to maintaining healthy coastal environments. They provide valuable habitat to many animals and birds and are used as feeding and nursery areas for marine life and shorebird populations. The tiny creatures that live in mangrove forests play a major role in the feeding chain of coastal estuaries. An estuary is an area of brackish water where saltwater from the sea and fresh water from inland mix together.

Once harvested for timber for building homes and ships, mangroves are appreciated today for their important environmental benefits and contribution to the health and stability of coastal habitat. Land development and other human activity threaten the health and continuance of mangrove forests and the wildlife that they support. Many thousands of acres of these forests have already been destroyed. The remaining mangrove forests must be carefully managed and protected from damage or destruction to ensure the health of these fascinating coastal wildlands.