Hi,

Hi, I'm a mangrove planted in Banishanta Union, Bangladesh! In honor of World Mangrove Day on July 26, I'm here to introduce myself and share a little something with you. 

I live in the tropics with other mangroves because we don't like cold weather. We help stabilize coastlines, reducing erosion from storm surges, currents, waves, and tides. Additionally, our intertwined roots provide refuge from predators for many of our forest-living friends, including the Bengal Tiger.¹

I absorb and store carbon from the air and make up less than 2% of the ocean's surface but hold 10%-15% of its carbon reserves. It's estimated that my mangrove brethren and I absorb about 75 billion pounds of carbon per year.² As a mangrove, I’m considered a keystone species, which scientists indicate play a critical role in maintaining the structure and health of our coastal ecosystems!³

However, my habitat is shrinking — much faster than the rainforest is disappearing. Activities such as aquaculture, coastal development, rice and palm oil farming, and industrial activities threaten our existing habitats and the prosperity of species which rely on our protection.⁴

The mangroves planted by EARTHDAY.ORG’s The Canopy Project contribute to restoring forest habitats, which gives refuge to wildlife. As part of this project, 100,000 seedlings will be planted on 10 hectares of land in my home, Bangladesh. This will bolster mangrove forests along rivers and help restore local fisheries and communities. The 100,000 seedlings planted on about 10 hectares of land in Bangladesh will bolster mangrove forests along rivers and help restore local fisheries and communities.⁵

Join The Canopy Project at EARTHDAY.ORG to help me restore my habitat. With your support, I can continue to safeguard our ecosystems. Together, let’s maximize our impact and ensure that my mangrove friends and family have a healthy future. 

Together,

The Mangrove Tree

Footnotes:

1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/mangroves.html

2. Smithsonian: https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/plants-algae/mangroves

3. National Geographic: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/keystone-species/

4. Smithsonian: https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/plants-algae/mangroves

5. The Canopy Project Bangladesh: https://www.earthday.org/campaign/the-canopy-project-bangladesh/