Mangrove Forests

Mangrove Forests | The world’s protector against climate change

[2021]

The Living Ocean Foundation's mangrove education and restoration programs in Jamaica and The Bahamas are profiled in the Winter 2020 issue of Saving Earth Magazine.

by Jan Lee
Saving Earth Magazine
Winter 2020 Issue

“From the tropical bays of Indonesia to the embattled intertidal shorelines of the disappearing Amazon, mangroves were once emblematic of an ecosystem that could adapt its survival to just about any crisis. Their broad, leafy trunks and complex root systems gave them the ability to survive in conditions that most terrestrial plant systems cannot endure: the brackish waters and muddy coastlines that frame the world’s densest tropical regions. Their adaptability also made them one of the most prolific ecosystems in the world. Mangroves can still be found on almost every continent on Earth.

Today however, the mangroves are in decline. Half of the world’s mangrove forests have disappeared in the last half century, driven chiefly by human expansion in commercial development. Just as concerning, tropical and subtropical regions have seen a staggering loss of the wildlife that depend upon mangroves for survival. The Bengal tiger, pygmy three-toed sloth, mangrove finch and roughnose Stingray are all examples of endangered species that rely upon this ecosystem.”

Read the full story in SAVING EARTH MAGAZINE on pg.46:

Ten Years of B.A.M.: Rooted in Partnership, Growing in Purpose

Ten years ago, the Bahamas Awareness of Mangroves (B.A.M.) program began with a simple but meaningful commitment: to connect Bahamian students with the mangrove ecosystems that shape and protect their island home.

Since 2015, B.A.M. has been implemented in partnership with Friends of the Environment, whose dedication to environmental stewardship in Abaco has made this program possible year after year. Together, we have worked alongside Patrick J. Bethel High School and Forest Heights Academy to bring hands-on mangrove science into classrooms and out into the field.

What makes ten years remarkable is not just longevity — it is consistency…

From Mangrove Mud to Meaningful Work: Desta’s J.A.M.I.N. Journey

Some students I remember for their grades, their quick answers, or a moment that made the whole class laugh. Others I remember for the way they stepped into the mangroves.

Desta was the kind of student who thrived outdoors. While some students hesitated at the edge of the mud, he walked right in. And when he inevitably got stuck — because everyone does — he didn’t get frustrated. He laughed. Covered in mud, holding mangrove propagules in his hands, he embraced the experience fully.

Even then, it was clear that he was connecting with the environment in a way that went beyond the lesson plan…