MANGROVES are usually associated with odours, black, swampy mud and, more recently, as a dumping ground for rubbish.
This feature will attempt to draw your attention to the immense value of these coastal forests in the hope that we don't end up in a situation of "we don't know what we've got until it's gone".
Research shows that no other plant community has attracted so much curiosity and scientific attention as the mangrove forests.
It has been recorded that a bibliography written by Rollet listed 5608 published titles through 1975, with one of the first written accounts of mangroves dating back to Greek mariners of 325BC.
It is entirely possible that this listing has since expanded with numerous inclusions being made from researchers of the Pacific.
Mangroves are an interesting plant found in terrestrial and aquatic environments.
As such, they have had to adapt to environmental conditions not normal to most plants such as high salt content in the surrounding water, low oxygen levels in surrounding soils and low levels of freshwater necessary for growth.
But mangroves have adapted to these conditions in several manners including:
High salt content mangroves possess salt pores on their leaves capable of excreting excess amounts of salt;
low oxygen levels mangroves take in the required air and oxygen through roots and bark, and
low freshwater levels mangroves have thick waxy leaves that limit the loss of water and are capable of restricting the opening of their stomata to help retain valuable water.
Globally, there are 110 recognised species of mangroves.
A UNEP report said the Pacific accounts for 34 true species and three hybrids of mangroves and Fiji is listed as having eight of the former and one of the latter.
For several thousands of years, our Pacific Island people have enjoyed the many direct products of mangroves such as firewood, dyes for tapa, timber and food resources such as clams, crabs (including the uniquely flavoured mana, a local delicacy from the Rewa delta) and fish.
Mangroves are known to have traditional medicinal value and because of their ability to kill some types of fungus, were thus used to treat fishing nets and traps.
More recently, the indirect benefits such as providing breeding grounds for marine species important to our diets (for example mud crabs, rainbow parrot fish, mullet and humphead wrasse) and, particularly, protecting shorelines from being eroded as a result of strong wave action are now being appreciated as they become more understood.
In many Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs), development projects are necessary to improving economic status and attract foreign investment and the consequent national treasury reserve.
It is vital to appreciate that while imported goods provide convenience, the value of local resources and their roles cannot be short-changed. Many mangrove forests are increasingly lost to land being cleared for coastal development.
The other increasingly worrying threat is the impact of climate change such as sea level rise.
In a report prepared by Secretariat for the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP), "global warming and sea level rise are acknowledged as the most serious environmental threat to the Pacific region".
Generally, as sea levels rise, mangroves will tend to retreat in a landward direction, encroaching on land that is already being used for other purposes such as dwelling areas, agriculture, infrastructure and so on.
It means the roles of mangroves as protective and retentive barriers against waves are significantly reduced.
Science claims continued global warming will increase storm surge frequencies.
This has resounding consequences for many low-lying coastal Pacific Island communities by increasing our vulnerability to coastal erosion and other destructive consequences of storm surges.
Coastal communities that do not have mangrove forests as a protective barrier will be more vulnerable to the impacts of storm surges and king tides.
In relating these back to mangroves, several cases have documented that the presence of mangroves significantly alleviated some of the devastating impacts of storm surges and even tsunamis.
A study conducted by the Maritime Institute of Malaysia on the "Roles of mangroves in the post-tsunami reconstruction and in mitigating the impact of the climate change" reported that during the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami, it was recorded that where there were healthy mangroves, the impact of these "extreme environmental events on humans and their properties were significantly reduced".
In a few weeks, Fiji will join the global community in celebrating Environment Week (June 4-8).
While internationally, the Environment Week theme is "Melting Ice A Hot Topic", a more locally relevant one was chosen: "Food Security beyond Climate Change". It is an attempt to raise awareness on the impact of climate change on our food resources and what we can do to secure this basic necessity of life.
One such way is to protect our mangrove forests, look after the nurseries that provide protection to those food resources we depend on.
Their conservation and protection can help to reduce the effects of rising sea levels and storm surges on our islands.
Local communities can engage the assistance of organisations such as OISCA, USP, Wetlands International, WWF and government departments such as Environment and Fisheries to plant mangroves along their shoreline, protect existing mangrove forests or alternatively, explore other feasible options.
Considering the important benefits derived from mangroves, whether direct or indirect, it is imperative that we protect what protects us.
Penina Solomona is the regional marine officer at WWF South Pacific, based in Suva.
