15 June 2019 | New Scientist | 29THIS spectacular mangrove forest
on Brazil’s Caratingui river is the
hunting ground for local crab
catcher Jose da Cruz. Such forests
are among the world’s most
productive ecosystems, home to
a variety of birds, fish, crustaceans
and molluscs, which provide vital
income for fishing communities.
But Cruz’s average daily catch
has halved in the past 10 years as
commercialisation has brought
pollution and overfishing. Since
1980, the global area covered
by mangroves has shrunk by
25 per cent, with forests felled for
firewood, wood chips and charcoal
production, as well as to clear
space for industry and tourism.
Worse, mangroves are important
carbon sinks and coastal storm
barriers, but climate change may
soon take its toll. Mangroves cope
with moderate rises in sea level
by building up land height. They
may be unable to keep pace with
faster rises, though. This worries
Cruz. Over the past decade, the
Caratingui waterline has retreated
3 metres inland, he says: “Nature
is upset. In Antarctica, it’s melting,
nature is melting.” ❚Tangled roots
Photographer Nacho Doce
ReutersBethan AckerleyFascinated by ecosystems?
Read all about the world’s most precious ones
newscientist.com/article-topic/ecosystem