International holidays - International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem

Evergreen deciduous forests, growing along the coasts of seas and in river mouths, are unique natural phenomena Their trees and shrubs can withstand up to 10-15 tides per month, spending almost 40% of their total life time in water The ecosystem occupies 152 million hectares of Earth's area Date and bushy palms, rhizophora, avicennia, succession, nipa, lianas and other plants provide the biological diversity of the flora of our planet Mangroves act as a natural barrier that protects the land from tsunamis and storms Many species of birds and mammals live in the crowns and at the foot of the trees, and fish, crabs and crocodiles live in the coastal zones With their powerful roots, plants prevent rising water levels and soil erosion, which absorbs large amounts of carbon and stores it in the form of solid deposits of organic matter Over the past 40 years, the area of ​​mangroves has decreased by 2 times Their disappearance threatens the existence of crustacean nurseries and fisheries This generally negatively affects the well-being and food security of residents of Southeast Asia, Africa, the coasts of Australia and America, and other regions where forests grow To attract public attention to the unique natural complex, a holiday was established in 2015 Every year, at the initiative of UNESCO and Ecuador, the International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems is celebrated on July 26 About 55 plant species grow in the littoral zone, the tidal strip of the seashore and the mouths of deep rivers Their root system is adapted to exist in silty soil that does not contain oxygen Nature has provided for the possibility of obtaining O2 by plants and shrubs Plants in mangrove forests have aerial roots, through which oxygen is supplied to tissues located underground The salt contained in the water creates a high osmotic pressure, 25 MPa, interfering with the absorption of life-giving moisture Because of this, the leaves of some trees are covered with white crystals The problem is solved by the adaptation of plant tissues to salt water and the ability to desalinate it These and other biological features make mangroves unique and distinguish them from tropical rainforests and other ecosystems International Mangrove Conservation Day calls for an end to the uncontrolled logging of forests located at the border between land and water On July 26, lectures, seminars and other educational events are held to raise public awareness about mangroves, their vulnerability and important role in the planet's ecosystem