Intact mangrove belts buffer coasts against storm surge and erosion
A continuous fringe of mangroves slows surge water, knocks down wave energy, and holds muddy banks with interlocking roots. Communities behind healthy belts often see less flooding and shoreline retreat than cleared coasts.
Shrimp ponds and seawalls that replace mangroves can leave land more exposed precisely when storms intensify.
Soft infrastructure saves hard assets. Keeping mangroves standing is coastal engineering written in salt-tolerant wood.
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