Belize's Mangrove Diversity

Belize is home to four types of mangrove: red, black, white, and the associate species, buttonwood. Covering 3.4% of Belize's land, mangroves are an important part of the country's ecosystem, acting as nurseries and feeding grounds for many species. They also provide protection from storms and flooding, and store three to five times more carbon in their soil per acre than other tropical forests. Despite legislation protecting the mangroves of Belize, their overall cover is decreasing due to expanding developments, including hotels and resorts.

Belize is home to red, black, white, and buttonwood mangrove species

Belize is home to four species of mangrove: red, black, white, and buttonwood. The scientific names for these species are Rhizophora mangle (red), Avicennia germinans (black), Laguncularia racemosa (white), and Conocarpus erectus (buttonwood). Together, these species cover 3.4% of Belize's land, including its 386-kilometer coastline and cayes.

The red mangrove is the most common species in the Caribbean and is usually found along the water's edge on cayes and waterways. It is easily identified by its long prop roots, which support the plant. The black mangrove is typically found further inland and can be recognised by the small protrusions called pneumatophores that encircle the base of the tree. These pneumatophores help facilitate gas exchange, as do the long prop roots found on red mangroves.

The white mangrove and buttonwood species are generally located even further away from the water's edge. Belize's mangroves have adapted to a wide variety of water conditions, from the freshwater of the Belize River to the purely saline conditions around the cayes. They do this by filtering out salt before taking up water into their tissues or extruding it through special pores on their leaves.

Mangroves are incredibly important ecosystems, acting as feeding and nursery grounds for fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. They also stabilise soil and dissipate wave energy, providing vital protection to coastal communities from storms and flooding. In addition, mangroves store three to five times more carbon in their soil per acre than other tropical forests, making them an important tool in the fight against climate change.

Despite legislation protecting the mangroves of Belize, their overall cover is decreasing due to expanding developments, including hotels and resorts, and the clearing of wetland areas to accommodate rising tourism.

Mangroves cover 3.4% of Belize's land, bordering much of its coastline and cayes

Mangroves cover 3.4% of Belize's land, bordering much of its 386-kilometre coastline and cayes. Belize is home to three types of mangrove: the red mangrove, the black mangrove, and the white mangrove. There is also an associate mangrove species known as the buttonwood. These mangrove forests are some of the most productive ecosystems on Earth, predominantly found in low-lying intertidal areas of tropical and subtropical latitudes. They are unique forests, vital for both terrestrial and marine species, providing indispensable services such as habitat creation, shoreline protection, and erosion prevention.

Belize's mangroves act as feeding and nursery grounds for numerous species of fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. They also stabilise the soil and dissipate wave energy, providing essential protection to the mainland from storms and flooding. In addition, mangroves are highly effective at trapping and storing carbon, with Belizean mangroves storing up to five times more carbon in their soil per acre than other tropical forests. This trapped carbon can remain in the soil for centuries.

Belize has a large proportion of healthy mangrove forests compared to its regional neighbours. The Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, partially protects these mangroves from the open sea. The disconnected units of the Belizean Coast mangroves ecoregion extend from the Mexico-Belize border in the north to Amatique Bay on the southern coast of Guatemala. The climate here is characterised by relatively even temperatures throughout the year and a pronounced dry season.

Despite legislation protecting the mangroves of Belize, their overall cover is decreasing due to expanding developments, including hotels and resorts, and the clearing of wetland areas to accommodate rising tourism.

Mangroves are protected by legislation in Belize, but their cover is decreasing

Mangroves are an important part of Belize's ecosystem and economy. Belize is home to three types of mangrove: the red mangrove (*Rhizophora mangle*), the black mangrove (*Avicennia germinans*), and the white mangrove (*Laguncalaria racemosa*), as well as an associate mangrove species known as the buttonwood (*Conocarpus erectus*). These mangroves cover 3.4% of Belize's land and border much of the country's 386-kilometer coastline and cayes. They provide essential ecological functions, such as serving as feeding and nursery grounds for various species, stabilizing the soil, and dissipating wave energy during storms.

Despite their importance, the overall mangrove cover in Belize is decreasing, even though they are protected by legislation. The main threat to Belize's mangroves is the expanding developments, including hotels and resorts, that are being built to accommodate the growing tourism industry. Belize is experiencing rapid development due to an increase in tourists, expatriates, and immigrants. This has led to the clearing of many wetland areas and the removal of native mangrove forests to provide land for these new constructions.

The loss of mangrove cover has several negative consequences. Mangroves act as a natural defense against storms and flooding, protecting the mainland and coastal communities from their full impact. They also provide important habitats and feeding grounds for a diverse range of species, including birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. Additionally, mangroves play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by storing three to five times more carbon in their soil per acre than other tropical forests.

Efforts to protect and restore mangroves in Belize are ongoing. The country has revised its national mangrove regulation to better safeguard these ecosystems and the services they provide. Belize is also a signatory to the Paris Agreement, which allows for the inclusion of mangrove protection in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the agreement. By incorporating mangrove conservation into its climate commitments, Belize can protect these valuable ecosystems and build resilience to climate change.

The work of dedicated individuals and organizations, such as the University of Belize Environmental Research Institute and the Global Development Policy Center, also provides hope for the preservation and restoration of Belize's mangroves. Through research, education, and the development of comprehensive models like the Multi-scale Integrated Models for Ecosystem Services (MIMES), they aim to highlight the importance of mangroves and address the challenges posed by their declining coverage.

Mangroves are highly productive ecosystems, supporting biodiversity and providing critical ecosystem services

Mangroves are highly productive ecosystems that support a wide range of biodiversity and provide critical ecosystem services. In Belize, there are three types of mangrove: the red mangrove (*Rhizophora mangle*), the black mangrove (*Avicennia germinans*), and the white mangrove (*Laguncularia racemosa*), with an associate species known as the buttonwood (*Conocarpus erectus*). These mangroves cover 3.4% of Belize's land, bordering much of its 386km coastline, and support a diverse range of species.

Supporting Biodiversity

Mangroves are essential habitats for thousands of species, including birds, fish, and invertebrates. They provide breeding and nursery grounds for approximately 74 species of fish and 178 species of birds, and they are home to 11 species of amphibians, 30 species of reptiles, and 40 species of mammals. The trees shelter insects, attracting birds that nest and feed among their branches and dense roots. The roots also provide space for invertebrates, such as barnacles and mussels, to cling to and grow.

Providing Critical Ecosystem Services

Mangroves play a vital role in stabilising soil and dissipating wave energy, protecting the land and its inhabitants from erosion and storms. They act as a natural barrier, protecting the mainland from flooding and storm surges. Additionally, mangroves filter pollutants and trap sediment, keeping the seawater and inland waterways clean. They also contribute to carbon sequestration and erosion control, enhancing the livelihoods of local communities.

The mangrove ecosystem in Belize faces threats from expanding developments, including hotels and resorts, and the clearing of wetland areas to accommodate rising tourism. Despite legislation protecting the mangroves, their overall cover is decreasing. The conservation and preservation of these highly productive ecosystems are crucial for maintaining the biodiversity they support and the critical ecosystem services they provide.

Mangroves are important for climate change adaptation and mitigation, storing more carbon than other tropical forests

Belize is home to three types of mangroves: the red mangrove, the black mangrove, and the white mangrove, with an associate mangrove species known as the buttonwood tree. These mangroves cover 3.4% of Belize's land and border much of the country's coastline.

Mangroves are important for climate change adaptation and mitigation. They are one of the top three carbon-capturing ecosystems on Earth, sequestering many times more CO2 than most comparable biomes. They are also able to regenerate and restore to full capacity in a short period of time. Mangrove restoration is, therefore, an underutilized natural solution to climate change.

Mangroves are also important for climate change adaptation. They provide critical ecosystem services such as coastal protection and food security. For example, mangroves act as storm barriers, protecting inland areas from flooding and erosion by dissipating the energy of big waves. They also act as nurseries for fish, which can have a big impact on local economies and food production.

Mangroves store about 10 billion tons of carbon globally, with most of this carbon stored in the soil beneath the trees. Studies indicate that, pound for pound, mangroves can sequester four times more carbon than rainforests.

The protection, enhancement, and restoration of natural carbon sinks like mangroves must become political priorities. This is especially true for small island nations, where mangrove protection and restoration represent one of the most viable climate mitigation options.

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