Natural regrowth has reversed decades of mangrove decline, study finds

Mangroves have long been considered one of the planet’s most threatened ecosystems. These dense forests along tropical and subtropical coastlines were steadily being lost to urban expansion, shrimp farming, agriculture, pollution and climate change. Each year thousands of hectares were lost, threatening wildlife, fisheries and coastal communities that depended on them. But a striking new study suggests the narrative is beginning to change.According to online media reports, scientists who analyzed satellite images spanning more than four decades—from the 1980s to 2023—say mangrove forests are coming back in many parts of the world.