Global warming is not expected to end anytime soon, even if we stopped the emissions of greenhouse gases now, CO2 and temperatures would still rise for another 100 years. The biggest threats to mangroves are not from global warming, and if we reduce human pressures on mangroves, then the impacts of climate change on mangroves could be reduced overall. Here is a list of scientist suggested general mangrove management/improvement:
- Increase mangrove protection
- Reduce population density along the coasts
- Use more sustainable timber extraction practices
- Reduce aquaculture especially pond aquaculture
- Science guided restoration and afforestation
- Study the impacts of mangrove movement into wetlands
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However, the effects of global warming should be taken into account for the future of mangroves, especially the increase in global temperature and rising sea levels.
My suggestions:
Increase in Global Temperature:
1)Scientific research should be done on liveable temperature ranges for each mangrove species, and those with high temperature tolerance should be experimentally introduced into areas where a high rise in temperatures are coupled with a high need for coastal protection. Although this may go against the natural ecology of the area, in my opionion the increase in CO2 sequestering and the coastal protection are too important.
Rise in Sea level:
2)The same research could be done for sea level rises, that is finding the individual species tolerance to flooding, but a broader range of coasts will be affected by the sea level rise than the unliveable increase in temperatures. Perhaps other ways to help reduce sea level rises could be introduced? Perhaps introduction of, or an increase in eel grass that live submerged in water, to areas where mangroves are lost could help with erosion, CO2 sequestering, and reducing sea level rise itself?
As it was said previously, not enough research has been done in these areas, and with respects to mangroves and climate change, rising sea level especially, along with rise in global temperatures seem like the biggest threats based on current research. Scientists and communities need to study the local ecology of mangroves and come up with a local climate change scenario and plan that includes the ultimate protection from coastal erosion and high intensity storms. It is not enough that mangroves move inland at the cost of wetlands and mudlands, even though the carbon fixation remains, it is important that these trees align the coasts and protect humans as well as other organisms. Their importance can not be stressed!
Increase in Global Temperature:
1)Scientific research should be done on liveable temperature ranges for each mangrove species, and those with high temperature tolerance should be experimentally introduced into areas where a high rise in temperatures are coupled with a high need for coastal protection. Although this may go against the natural ecology of the area, in my opionion the increase in CO2 sequestering and the coastal protection are too important.
Rise in Sea level:
2)The same research could be done for sea level rises, that is finding the individual species tolerance to flooding, but a broader range of coasts will be affected by the sea level rise than the unliveable increase in temperatures. Perhaps other ways to help reduce sea level rises could be introduced? Perhaps introduction of, or an increase in eel grass that live submerged in water, to areas where mangroves are lost could help with erosion, CO2 sequestering, and reducing sea level rise itself?
As it was said previously, not enough research has been done in these areas, and with respects to mangroves and climate change, rising sea level especially, along with rise in global temperatures seem like the biggest threats based on current research. Scientists and communities need to study the local ecology of mangroves and come up with a local climate change scenario and plan that includes the ultimate protection from coastal erosion and high intensity storms. It is not enough that mangroves move inland at the cost of wetlands and mudlands, even though the carbon fixation remains, it is important that these trees align the coasts and protect humans as well as other organisms. Their importance can not be stressed!
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