Mangroves: A Threatened Ecosystem Under-Utilized as a Resource for Scientific Research

Nearly half of the global population lives within 150 km of a coastline, placing mangrove forests under incessant anthropogenic pressure. The mangrove ecosystem is one of the most productive ecosystems on the globe, despite being one of the most threatened. The land area covered by the mangrove ecosystem has been reduced by more than half in the last 40 years. This work evaluated the international scientific production of articles focusing on mangroves, connecting the current lack of knowledge with the observed rapid mangrove degradation rates. The Antarctic and Coral Reef ecosystems were used as comparative environments, and this paper found that in the past century, mangrove forests have not attracted the same level of worldwide scientific attention or interest. This lack of research on mangroves is primarily shared by the countries that contain large mangrove land areas, such as Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia and Mexico. Increasing our knowledge of mangrove forests through scientific research could help preserve this valuable ecosystem by increasing public awareness and driving new policies and protection arrangements. This important ecosystem, with its rich biodiversity, bio-technological potential and related ecological and social benefits, must be saved on a global scale.