Mangroves: What are they Worth?

Abstract

"The mangrove forests of the Indo-Pacific areas have a richer flora than those of the American and West African areas, with 63 species, widely distributed. Mangroves are favoured by a humid tropical climate, partly because high rainfall is usually accompanied by silt-laden rivers forming suitable mudflats. They arc generally well developed in estuaries. Mangrove trees also grow on extremely arid coasts where they may assume special importance as the only woody vegetation present-and on coral or rocky islands. In the humid tropics, Rhizophora may attain heights of more than 40 metres."