Mangroves, a prodigious ecosystem
Mangroves have something divine about them. As if they were a rooted version of water gods, they connect the sea with the land. But not only that: they are also protectors of the coasts and all the beings that inhabit them. Like ancient deities, they watch over the terrestrial world. However, in the last 40 years, their surface area has been reduced by more than half. Practicing sustainable tourism helps take care of this and other prodigious ecosystems in the Caribbean.
The presence of mangroves safeguards existence, yet the places where they thrive are particularly sensitive to the effects of the climate crisis. Iberostar seeks to improve coastal health in its destinations by planting mangroves and other native species. But what are mangroves, and where does their name come from? Where can they be found? How do they benefit the environment and, therefore, also the plants and animals with which we share our home? We will tell you all about it.
What Are Mangroves?
Mangroves are a type of wet tropical forest formed by different trees called mangroves. What they all have in common is that they grow with part of their roots submerged in saltwater, generally in the muddy and nutrient-rich bottoms of rivers that merge into the sea. These mouths harbor their own universe full of life. In the planet's symbiotic harmony, their presence also guarantees the future of human communities. Throughout this article, we will explain why. For now, a significant fact: UNESCO, in collaboration with various partners, declared July 26 as the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem due to its great ecological importance.
Why Are They Called Mangroves?
The term mangrove comes from the Caribbean or Arawak language. The peculiarity of these trees or shrubs, which can measure up to four meters in height, is that their branches give birth to offshoots that descend to the ground and root in it. Roots, branches, and leaves intertwine to create majestic vegetable sculptures. The grouping of mangroves, that is, the habitat they form, is called a mangrove because (although it also supports other endangered flora) it is mainly made up of this species. There are several types, among which the button (Conocarpus erectus), white (Laguncularia racemosa), black (Avicennia germinans), and red (Rhizophora mangle) mangroves stand out. Each of them has adapted to survive under specific conditions.
What are the benefits of Mangroves?
They Protect the Coasts
As we have already advanced, good coastal health is crucial for maintaining the balance of the entire Earth and, even more urgently, of the territories bathed by the sea, where thousands of people depend on the conservation of the coastlines to survive. Thus, mangroves protect the coasts when storms and hurricanes form, thus constituting a natural barrier against erosion. Their robust bodies reduce the impact of the waves and strong winds when they reach the shore.
They Serve as a Nursery for Many Marine Animals
What are mangroves for, besides protecting the coasts? Another of their important functions is to act as a nursery for many marine animals. In particular, for numerous fish, mollusks, and crustaceans such as crabs and shrimps. Mangroves provide them with nutrition and shelter until they reach an optimal size to venture into the ocean. Amphibians, tree-loving mammals like titi monkeys, and even birds such as herons, vultures, and seagulls also frequent the area. Occasionally, a female sea turtle makes her way towards a nearby beach to lay her eggs.
They Filter Water
Mangroves, like coral reefs, filter water to remove excess nutrients. In other words, they regulate the food available in their habitat, preventing algae and aquatic plants from proliferating uncontrollably and cannibalizing the ecosystem, "suffocating" nearby corals. Moreover, they enhance the quality of the waters by sieving the sand and other small fragments of organic matter like shell remains. The beaches closest to these tropical forests are characterized by their transparent and clean sea.
They Act as Carbon Sinks
The leafy crowns of mangroves absorb excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through their vibrant-colored leaves, grouped in delicate but flexible stems. When they perform photosynthesis, the plants of the planet clean the air of COâ‚‚ and fill it with oxygen. That's why forests are called green lungs. Trees breathe and, with their breath, make it possible for both human and non-human animals to do so too. All the answers that can be given to the question regarding what mangroves are for responds to a greater purpose: they are there along with other valuable forested treasures because, if they were not, life on Earth would not flourish either. Their here and now is yours.
Where to find Mangroves?
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
The mangroves of the Dominican Republic spread across various areas, including Punta Cana. There, alongside the other hotels of the Bávaro complex, sits JOIA Bávaro by Iberostar, a superior category accommodation with a sustainable vocation and adult-oriented. From this resort, Iberostar actively works in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment to replant mangroves. Thanks to their initiatives, more than 16,000 red, button, and white mangroves have been reforested in the Iberostar complexes in the Dominican Republic, and an additional 3,000 specimens outside the hotels. As a complement, actions are promoted for the awareness of guests and residents.
Vegan travels also support sustainability. Anti-speciesist ethics and the diet derived from it help combat indiscriminate logging, greenhouse gas emissions, or the pollution of rivers and seas. In the typical Dominican cuisine, you will find tasty plant-based recipes that, in addition to being delicious, will bring you closer to its culture. You can taste some of them at Iberostar restaurants, where seasonally obtained ingredients are prioritized responsibly.
Riviera Maya, Mexico
Other mangroves in the world are located in Mexico. There, community tourism, which values local production and its gifts and supports small family economies, will guide you to approach destinations like the Riviera Maya with a respectful outlook. The ancestral civilizations of this territory are present in each of its corners. The cultural and natural wealth of the area, with a diversity of landscapes that will leave you speechless, permeates everything.
Long paradisiacal beaches of white sand and turquoise waters await you. Tropical jungle for hiking, cenotes, and other diving spots, as well as dream islands that you can easily access by boat. You will also find mangroves in the natural water park of Xel-Há. The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987, hosts one of the largest surfaces of mangroves in the Caribbean. Fish, water birds, turtles, and other endangered Mexican animals consider this habitat their home. From the superior category hotel JOIA ParaÃso by Iberostar, which forms an all-inclusive resort together with four other accommodations, you can launch into adventure and immerse yourself in the nature of Riviera Maya while enjoying moments of relaxation and disconnection.
Amazon River, Brazil
If the idea of exploring the lush biodiversity of Brazil attracts you, you will not only enjoy ethically sighting the most surprising fish of the Amazon aboard a luxury accommodation that sails among mangroves, the Grand Amazon Expedition, but you will also have the option to stay on one of the most beautiful beaches of Bahia, Praia do Forte. Organize a two-stage trip so you don't miss anything. First, embark on a river cruise along the world's longest and most voluminous river, where mangroves cover more than 7,000 square kilometers of extension and, proportionally, absorb almost double the COâ‚‚ than the very Amazon rainforest itself. Afterward, surrender to relaxation and reconnection with yourself by the sea: at the Iberostar Selection Praia do Forte and Iberostar BahÃa hotels, located near Salvador de Bahia, you will discover the fascinating universe of sea turtles and can take part in projects for their protection.
