NASA satellite images show that mangrove forests, which protect shorelines, support coastal ecosystems, and store large amounts of carbon along saltwater coasts, are more resilient than scientists once believed. Four decades of Landsat observations reveal that mangrove forest coverage shifted from long-term decline to expansion, with the rebound beginning in 2010.
The forests have long been shrinking as they were cleared for agriculture, logging, and urban development. The new study, published in Science, shows that the trend has largely reversed due to conservation efforts and the natural propagation of mangrove plants.
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by Joji Xavier
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