Mangrove forests are in danger all over the world. Within few decades, about 50 per cent of the area of mangrove forests have been irretrievably destroyed.
This complex living space of many animal and plant species has to give in to rice and coconut palms plantations and is cleared and drained in order to win resources.
The shrimp breeding farms account for a major part of the devastation. Because of the ruthless exploitation of local resources for the breeding of gambas, new areas for shrimp farms have to be opened at regular intervals.
Although the significance of mangrove areas for the ecosystem is well-known, their devastation continues. It is estimated that in the next twenty years, mangrove forests will have disappeared from the coastline even though the consequences are devastating both for people and nature:
Thanks to their widely branched network of roots, the mangroves prevent the enormous cargo of fluvial sediment from being transported to the open sea. Without these filters, whole reefs and sea grass meadows would suffocate in mud.
Without the nutrients from the mangrove areas, the life forms in the coral reefs and seaweed meadows would not be able to find enough food. Without the delivery of organic substances, the species richness will shrink even more.
More than a half of all fish species reproduce in the mangroves. Without these places of retreat, the fish population will shrink dramatically. Besides the environmental, the economic significance of this ecosystem becomes particularly obvious at this point.
Due to the rigorous deforestation, local people are bereft of their livelihood. Social conflicts in poor countries have been escalating rapidly.
The mangroves, with the flora of their roots, protect coastal regions from erosion and tropical windstorms. Without this natural barrier, cyclones and hurricanes could sweep freely across the coast.
The scientists have been partly blaming the lacking protection of mangroves for high human losses in tropical storms.
Only few consumers of tiger shrimps will be aware of the far-reaching consequences caused by the industrial shrimp production.... more
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