GOOD NEWS! Some mangrove forests are rapidly expanding

 Royal Society Journals

A mangrove forrest, close up. Photo by Jeff Kelleway

     The expansions are occurring on low-lying islands of the Great Barrier Reef, creating new habitats and protecting coastlines from storms and sea level rise. They're also capturing carbon and helping tiny islands grow. Mangroves of the Howick Islands in the northern Great Barrier Reef have been mapped for the first time since 1974. The new maps show that the mangrove forests have extended at rates of up to five metres a year, adding over 10,000 tonnes of new biomass. Watch video, below.