Mangroves of South Africa

In the Mangroves of South Africa is an updated version of the original book first published in 1977. Our mangroves communities in South Africa have shrunk dramatically until now fewer than 400 hectares of this habitat remains in KwaZulu-Natal. Most mangroves have been affected by ‘development’ and ignorance of their ecological importance. Mangroves are crucial for coastal areas and play a vital role in stabilizing these areas acting as buffers between the land and the sea. With coastlines throughout the world facing serious problems of coastal erosion and the threat of rising sea levels due to global warming, this role has become even more critical. Mangrove forests and estuaries are also nurseries for a number of marine organisms including commercially important shrimp, crab and fish species. Hence, loss of mangroves not only affects us ecologically but has direct economic repercussions.