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Stories in Florida

The Importance of Mangroves

Florida mangroves provide protection from storms, nurseries for wildlife and recreation for people.

Mangrove roots rising up from the sea floor in Florida.
Mangroves are an important part of Florida's coastal natural infrastructure © Ralph Pace

Mangroves are important to people because they help stabilize Florida’s coastline ecosystem and reduce erosion. Mangroves provide natural infrastructure to help protect nearby populated areas by reducing erosion and absorbing storm surge impacts during extreme weather events such as hurricanes.  

They are also important to the ecosystem too. Their dense roots help bind and build soils. Their above-ground roots slow down water flows and encourage sediment deposits that reduce coastal erosion.

The complex mangrove root systems filter nitrates, phosphates and other pollutants from the water, improving the water quality flowing from rivers and streams into the estuarine and ocean environment.

Mangrove Protection Demonstration (0:14) This wave tank demonstrates how mangroves stop wave action and protect shorelines during a storm surge.

Mangrove forests capture massive amounts of carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, and then trap and store them in their carbon-rich flooded soils for millennia. This is an important ecosystem service as we face climate change. This buried carbon is known as “blue carbon” because it is stored underwater in coastal ecosystems like mangrove forests, seagrass beds and salt marshes. 

Quote: Anne Birch

Mangroves are magical forests where we discover nature’s secrets. They straddle the connection between land and sea and nature and humans. Mangrove forests nurture our estuaries and fuel our nature-based economies.

Marine Conservation Manager, TNC Florida
A conch rests in sand of a shallow ocean floor, surrounded by the roots of a mangrove forest.
Conch and other shellfish These important species call mangrove forests their home. © Ralph Pace
× A conch rests in sand of a shallow ocean floor, surrounded by the roots of a mangrove forest.
A pair of white ibis birds wade in shallow waters, surrounded by the roots of a mangrove forest.
White Ibis These juvenile white ibises find shelter, protection. and foraging opportunities in mangrove roots. © Ralph Pace
× A pair of white ibis birds wade in shallow waters, surrounded by the roots of a mangrove forest.
Conch and other shellfish These important species call mangrove forests their home. © Ralph Pace
White Ibis These juvenile white ibises find shelter, protection. and foraging opportunities in mangrove roots. © Ralph Pace

Mangrove forests also provides habitat and refuge to a wide array of wildlife such as birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals and plants. Estuarine habitats with coastal mangrove shorelines and tree roots are often important spawning and nursery territory for juvenile marine species including shrimp, crabs, and many sport and commercial fish species such as redfish, snook and tarpons.

Branches of the mangroves act as bird rookeries and nesting areas for coastal wading birds including egrets, herons, cormorants and roseate spoonbills. In some areas, red mangrove roots are ideal for oysters, which can attach to the portion of the roots that hang into the water. 

Endangered species such as the smalltooth sawfish, manatee, hawksbill sea turtle, Key Deer and the Florida panther rely on this habitat during some stage of their life cycle.

Mangrove forests provide nature experiences for people such as birding, fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, and the therapeutic calm and relaxation that comes from enjoying peaceful time in nature. They also provide economic benefits to communities as a nursery for commercial fish stocks.

A kayaker glides smoothly over a mangrove forest in Florida.
Outdoor Recreation Mangrove forests provide important opportunities to connect people and nature. © Nick Hall

Threats to Mangrove Forests

Unfortunately, there are many challenges that place mangrove forests under threat. Human impact such as dredging, filling, water pollution from herbicides and development can lead to mangrove erosion and habitat destruction. When mangrove forests are cleared and destroyed, they release massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.

An important part of our ongoing efforts to restore natural habitat at Blowing Rocks Preserve is the restoration of red mangroves to the shoreline. The importance of mangrove planting at our preserves cannot be understated, to help protect and restore this vital Florida treasure. TNC continues protection and restoration efforts of our important forests, from the Panhandle to the Keys, on behalf of people and nature.

Quote: Report: Building Mangrove Capital

We estimate the present value of Florida mangroves for flood protection as $50 billion.

Report: Building Mangrove Capital Assessing the Benefit-Cost Ratio for Mangrove Restoration
Illustration of ocean surge levels with and without mangroves. A higher surge level without mangroves threatens property.
Mangrove Benefits Surge is reduced behind mangroves, helping ease flooding to land and properties. © The Nature Conservancy

The Benefits of Mangroves

With coastal challenges created by growing populations, burgeoning development, and climate change, risks to people and property from flooding and storm surge are on the rise. Mangroves provide valuable flood protection and risk reduction benefits to these coastal areas, and yet are a threatened species. Coastal ecosystems, such as reefs and mangroves, are crucial in reducing the damages caused by floods to both people and property by acting as natural barriers to waves and storm surges. This is particularly important across the Caribbean and Florida, where the risk of storms has increased substantially over the past 30 years, accompanied by significant habitat loss. Therefore, the protection provided by mangroves is an essential component of coastal resilience, with their conservation and restoration necessary to safeguard both coastal communities and the natural environment.

TNC has published several reports that demonstrate the benefits of mangroves in Florida, The Bahamas and Mexico, including one detailing the specific flood risk reduction benefits of Florida's mangroves. The findings make a compelling economic case for protecting and restoring mangroves as a risk reduction strategy. Studies like these are important to demonstrate the value of natural climate solutions to encourage investment in nature along our shorelines.   

Florida Mangroves: Red, White and Black

Florida is home to three types of native mangrove species: red (Rhizophora mangle), black (Avicennia germinans) and white (Laguncularia racemosa). Each type of mangroves grows in the salty water in abundance along Florida shorelines. All types of mangrove trees (there are more than 50 species throughout the world) can filter out the salt from the sea water as it enters their roots.

Mangrove Shoreline Restoration at Blowing Rocks Preserve

Several mangrove plantings in pots, waiting to be planted at a nature preserve in Florida.
Mangrove Plantings Cultivated in pots in the Blowing Rocks Preserve plant nursery, these are ready to be planted on the shoreline. © Mike Olliver
× Several mangrove plantings in pots, waiting to be planted at a nature preserve in Florida.
Two school children plant a young mangrove in the sand of a Florida nature preserve.
Children plant mangroves These volunteers plant mangroves on the Blowing Rocks Preserve shoreline as part of their field trip. © Rachel Hancock Davis/TNC
× Two school children plant a young mangrove in the sand of a Florida nature preserve.
Mangrove Plantings Cultivated in pots in the Blowing Rocks Preserve plant nursery, these are ready to be planted on the shoreline. © Mike Olliver
Children plant mangroves These volunteers plant mangroves on the Blowing Rocks Preserve shoreline as part of their field trip. © Rachel Hancock Davis/TNC
Two rows of newly planted young mangroves line the shore of a lagoon at a Florida nature preserve.
Newly Planted Mangroves These mangroves line the lagoon shoreline at Blowing Rocks Preserve. © Mike Olliver
× Two rows of newly planted young mangroves line the shore of a lagoon at a Florida nature preserve.
A growing mangrove forest at a Florida nature preserve, showing the mangrove roots spreading out into the sand.
Mangroves take root Mangroves grow along the shoreline at Blowing Rocks Preserve, offering coastal protection and important habitat. © Rachel Hancock Davis/TNC
× A growing mangrove forest at a Florida nature preserve, showing the mangrove roots spreading out into the sand.
Newly Planted Mangroves These mangroves line the lagoon shoreline at Blowing Rocks Preserve. © Mike Olliver
Mangroves take root Mangroves grow along the shoreline at Blowing Rocks Preserve, offering coastal protection and important habitat. © Rachel Hancock Davis/TNC