When we think of extinction, we think of Pandas, polar bears and other cute mammals. We don’t often think of amphibians, fungus or insects and we certainly don’t think about trees. This is rather unfortunate since trees often support an entire eco-system and the loss of trees in an area can cause many other species to go extinct.
This is why the news that nearly one dozen mangrove species are now threatened and the loss of these trees could cause serious problems for the economies and eco-systems of the Central American coast.
Mangroves are not only trees, but shrubs and large plants that help to store carbon, provide nutrients to eco-systems, provide habitats for many marine species and prevent erosion.
In the name of progress, many mangrove forests are being cleared for aquaculture and development to the point where 11 of 70 mangrove species are now threatened with extinction.
Without these forests, economies would suffer as well since it would have a negative impact on fisheries and water quality in the coastal areas.
Extinction isn’t just about furry mammals, it is about plants, insects and funguses that literally make the world as we know it.
Mangrove Trees
Filed under: Alerts, Craig and Layla Baird, Endangered, Environmental Destruction, Trees Tagged: | climate change, CO2 emissions, craig and layla baird, craig baird, craig baird layla baird, environment, Extinction, global warming, global warming emissions, layla and craig baird, layla baird, Mangrove trees, Our Green Year, rising temperatures, species extinct, the green couple
