How planet's 'blue forests', mangroves, protect coastlines, support wildlife and store up to four times more carbon than tropical rainforests

• Image: AI GeneratedMangrove forests occupy only a tiny fraction of Earth's land surface, yet they are among the planet's most valuable ecosystems.
• Growing where land meets the sea, these salt-tolerant trees form dense coastal forests that shield shorelines from storms, provide nurseries for marine life and lock away enormous amounts of carbon.
• Their exceptional ability to capture and store carbon has earned them the nickname "blue carbon forests", making them one of nature's most powerful allies against climate change.