By visiting and contributing to this site, you are assisting efforts to better manage tidal wetlands including mangroves, salt marsh and saltpans. These highly productive natural habitats are threatened by coastal development, abuse and neglect (Duke et al., Science 2007). In losing them, we risk valuable coastal fisheries, protection of foreshore areas from large waves and storms, nursery areas for young fish and marine life, plus many other things. These areas need your watchful attention to identify and monitor the changes taking place there. These changes might be shown by mangrove dieback, or even the appearance of unusual numbers of seedlings. The general rule is that whatever looks different is worth investigating since this lets us know whether something has changed, and if we should be worried about it. And, if we can do something to correct the situation.

Of course, the answers are implicit in what has changed. To determine this, you need to understand what you see, or be able to ask some specialist about it. This website is a small step in that direction. The site is intended to provide you with help for such questions, and to encourage those who would like to be part of Mangrove Watch.