Roots of Hope

Protected for more than three decades, the Gardens of the Queen in Cuba are often referred to as one of the Crown Jewels of the Caribbean. It’s one of the few places you can see untouched, intact, and healthy mangroves, seagrass and coral reef ecosystems living in harmony.

Mangroves serve as a home for a range of species, including a crocodile named Gusto, who everyone calls Tito.

An encounter with a young but wise Goliath Grouper hiding in the mangroves as it strategically hunts minnows and lobsters.

Mangroves not only provide shelter and nutrients to hundreds of species. These trees are also an efficient and affordable solution for reducing carbon in the atmosphere, sequestering it in their roots deep in the ocean floor.

The team at Blue Ventures gives us the lowdown on mangroves, the aquatic trees that support coastal communities and an incredible diversity of life. With deforestation of mangroves taking place at an unprecedented rate, conservation projects like Tahiry Honko in Madagascar have never been more important. Footage for this video provided by: Chris Scarffe / Blue Ventures.

On her first trip to the mangrove forests near the island of Koh Sralau and along Cambodia’s coastline, filmmaker Kalyanee Mam gazed in awe at the grandeur and beauty of these forests. She was there to document the threat of sand dredging to an ecosystem and a communal way of life.

Mangroves are home to a diverse array of species, help protect coastlines, build economic strength, and take carbon out of the air. Ocean scientist and photographer Octavio Aburto investigates what a mangrove forest is worth to the planet and humanity today.

If we turn our gaze to the rich mud of coastal wetlands, we will find a hidden treasure that can help us protect our planet from the damaging effects of climate change.

Below the surface of a mangrove lagoon, it’s heaven on Earth. You’ll find an abundance of marine life that depends on this salty and unique ecosystem.

Aceh’s coastal villages in Indonesia were devastated by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. The survivors decided to plant mangroves as a buffer against future storms, and so far so good.