Mangroves are plant species that grow in shallow and protected coastal areas in tropical regions, in the tidal zones, such as estuaries, deltas, lagoons and coastal lakes. They grow in conditions where few other plants can survive: high salinity, soft substrate and lack of oxygen.

The mangrove tree is the dominant species. It survives in these hostile environments with the help of physiological adaptations, such as aerial roots that give it some unique features.

Mangroves are fragile ecosystems that must be protected because they play a crucial ecological and socio-economic role.

Mangroves protect and stabilize coastal areas
Through their root system, mangroves prevent coastal erosion and provide an effective barrier against the winds, waves and ocean currents. They protect the coast and its inhabitants against cyclones, storms and tsunamis. By stabilizing the sediment, they also prevent silting of coral reefs, sea grass beds and shipping lanes.

Mangroves are reservoirs of food and raw materials
Mangroves provide conditions and unique habitats which are inhabited by a large number of animal species: mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and especially fish, crabs, shrimps and molluscs, for which they provide favoured breeding sites. Mangroves, although amounting to just 0.4% of the world's forests are indeed essential to the life cycle of most commercial fish species worldwide.

In their capacity as an extraordinary reservoir of wildlife, mangroves provide a major source of protein to many coastal populations, particularly in developing countries. It supplies these people with firewood and wood for building, even for consumption and medicinal purposes plants are found that are essential to their survival.