THE importance of mangrove forest was highlighted during last month’s international day of forests.
The 21st of March marks the global day of forests, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012.
Ecological Solutions – Solomon Islands (ESSI) in a statement said the event was to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all forest types, and trees outside forests for the benefit of current and future generations.
As part of commemorating the event ESSI highlighted Maramasike Passage in Malaita as one with the largest mangrove forests in the country.
It further highlighted that importance of mangrove forests as the breeding ground to many species.
“The Maramasike passage which has some of the most extensive mangrove forests within the Solomon’s. Mangrove forests are not only important breeding grounds for a huge number of vertebrate and invertebrate species, but they are also really good ‘carbon sinks,’ and outperform most other forest types in their capacity to store carbon, with some studies showing that they can hold up to 4 times more carbon than other tropical forests of comparable size.
“And therefore Mangrove forests are an important forest type in the fight against global warming and climate change,” the statement said.
In the country mangrove regions along the many coastal areas of our island are now being threatened by over population, over harvesting and climate change.
By MOFFAT MAMU
