Page 13 - ARUBA TODAY

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Friday 26 July 2019

International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem

ORANJESTAD- Today marks els and erosion. Their soils
the International Day for are highly effective car-
the Conservation of the bon sinks, sequestering vast
Mangrove Ecosystem, ad- amounts of carbon.
opted by the General Con- Yet mangroves are disap-
ference of UNESCO in 2015 pearing three to five times
and celebrated each year faster than overall global
on July 26. With this, UNES- forest losses, with serious
CO aims to raise aware- ecological and socio-eco-
ness of the importance of nomic impacts. Current es-
mangrove ecosystems as timates indicate that man-
“a unique, special and vul- grove coverage has been
nerable ecosystem" and to divided by two in the past
promote solutions for their 40 years. used to strengthen natu- weaving as well as to pro- mangroves are fascinating
sustainable management, UNESCO is engaged deep- ral fiber lines used in fish- duce charcoal. ecosystems.
conservation and uses. ly in supporting the conser- ing. Traditionally they were
The most popular man- vation of mangroves, while used much more intensive- Born survivors
grove sites in Aruba would advancing the sustainable ly than today for example In fact looking beyond the Continued on Page 14
definitely be considered development of their local in boat building and basket mud and the mosquitoes
SPAANS LAGOEN & MAN- communities. The inclusion
GEL HALTO in Pos Chikito. of mangroves in Biosphere
Reserves, World Heritage
Mangroves are rare, spec- sites and UNESCO Global
tacular and prolific ecosys- Geoparks contributes to
tems on the boundary be- improving the knowledge,
tween land and sea. These management and conser-
extra ordinary ecosystems vation of mangrove eco-
contribute to the wellbe- systems throughout the
ing, food security, and pro- world.
tection of coastal commu-
nities worldwide. They sup- Uses of mangroves
port a rich biodiversity and Mangroves have been
provide a valuable nursery highly managed ecosys-
habitat for fish and crusta- tems since the dawn of
ceans. Mangroves also act time. Until the advent of
as a form of natural coastal synthetic lines the roots of
defense against storm surg- the red mangrove (Rhi-
es, tsunamis, rising sea lev- zophora sp) were routinely