"When I was a young girl we had so much. We had shrimp, clams, crab and fish. We collected everything with our hands. We could go out for just a moment and have enough to eat. But by three or four years ago, it was almost gone."—Sutchin Raksarak, Thai mangrove activist

Spiny Lobster. R. Mickens / AMNH

Mangroves once flourished along three quarters of the world's tropical coastlines. Today more than half of these forests are gone. Cutting down mangroves spells disaster for human communities as well as marine life. Yet mangroves are disappearing faster than inland tropical rain forests-sometimes even through government-funded development projects. But in some places people have protected and restored mangroves as their true value becomes appreciated.

Working With Mangroves
Where mangroves are protected, fish, shrimp and shellfish are plentiful. These animals can also be raised in floating pens without harming mangroves if well managed. In some coastal regions of Thailand, village committees decide when mangrove wood can be removed. If one tree is cut, five are planted, conserving the mangroves and maintaining a sustainable local economy.

Bird Sanctuaries
Endangered brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) nest on mangrove branches in Florida, where mangrove sanctuaries are protected by state and U.S. laws.
Farrell Grehan/photo Researchers, Inc.

Shrimp Farming
In parts of Asia, South America and Africa vast tracts of mangroves have been cleared to make way for large, export-oriented shrimp farms. Many quickly fail, leaving behind a devastated landscape of cracked soil, which often becomes acidic when exposed to air and sunlight. Salt seeps into wells and crops, and formerly self-sufficient villagers are forced to move to the cities.