A mangrove habitat at Weedon Island Preserve in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Feb. 23, 2025. Photo courtesy of Hayden Randolph.
Facing risks from development, invasive species, and climate change, Florida’s mangroves protect against storm surge and serve as a rich breeding habitat for many species.
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By Hayden Randolph
TAMPA, Fla. — Florida’s mangroves protect its coastlines from threats like storm surge while facing threats of their own.
“They protect coastlines by reducing wave energy and storm surge, which helps limit erosion and flooding during hurricanes and other extreme storms,” David Kaplan, director of the University of Florida’s Center for Coastal Solutions, said. “They are also highly productive nursery habitats for fish, crabs, and shrimp that support both commercial and recreational fisheries.”
According to the National Wildlife Federation, the ecosystem serves as habitat for breeding and feeding for several aquatic species. Mangroves can be valued at $80,000 to $360,000 per acre.
“When mangroves are lost, communities become more vulnerable to storm damage, flooding, and shoreline erosion,” Kaplan said. “These losses translate into higher costs for infrastructure repair, insurance, and disaster recovery.”
Mangroves face threats from natural disasters, climate change, deforestation, aquaculture, coastal development and pollution, according to the Mangrove Action Project. Development can release carbon dioxide stored in the habitat’s soil because mangroves act as carbon sinks. Additionally, sea level rise from climate change is pushing mangroves inland.
“Florida has some of the strongest mangrove protections in the United States. Mangroves are protected under state law, and permits are generally required for trimming or removal,” Kaplan said. “At the federal level, mangroves are also protected as wetlands under the Clean Water Act.”
In Florida, there are several statutes and administrative codes that protect mangroves through different means. Based on aerial monitoring from 1984 to 2011, Florida has gained 3,000 acres of mangroves during that time frame.
“Florida lost a substantial portion of its mangroves during the mid-20th century, largely due to coastal development, dredging, filling, and mosquito control efforts. In some urbanized regions, losses exceeded 50% or even more,” Kaplan said. “Overall, conservation groups estimate about 50% mangrove loss across the state.”
Amna Vu is a graduate finance student at the University of Tampa. Vu said that she knew little about mangroves.
“Everything has a value in the ecosystem,” Vu said. “I do want to hear more about what they bring to the ecosystem.”
Taylor Pawlyk is a freshman accounting major at the University of Tampa. Pawlyk said she knew “little to nothing” about the mangrove ecosystem.
“I am taking biodiversity conservation right now so I know that ecosystem has a big role,” Pawlyk said. “They are very intricate and they have value no matter what it is.”
While Florida has experienced some recovery of mangroves since 1984, Kaplan mentions that the threat to them is still present.
“While Florida has seen stabilization and even some recovery in recent decades, due to protections and warmer winter temperatures,” Kaplan said, “development pressure and climate stressors continue to pose risks, particularly in highly developed coastal areas.”