Natural vegetation is sparse in the United Arab Emirates, due to its hot and dry desert climate. But along its coast, mangroves have taken root. These hardy trees and shrubs are halophytes, salt-tolerant plants that can filter 90% of the salt from the seawater they live in. Despite their resilience, mangroves are threatened globally, largely due to human activity. Mangrove coverage is thought to have halved over the past 40 years, and they are dwindling much faster than forests overall. The UN has established the International Day of Mangrove Conservation, scientific funding, Global Geoparks, and World Heritage sites to try to reverse these trends. These efforts are vital; mangroves help prevent erosion and protect against storm surges, as well as providing a home for fish, crustaceans, and other wildlife.
International Day of Mangrove Conservation
Today in History
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Winter in Old Nuuk
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Pamukkale, Turkey
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The Children’s Cultural Festival in Reykjavik begins today
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Once in a pink moon
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Celebrating freedom
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Asteroid Day
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The tallest animal in the world on the longest day of the year
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Every day is Napping Day for this screech owl
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A reflection of Europe s past
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Its Halfway Day!
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Finding a balance between wetlands and water treatment
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Happy Thanksgiving from an expert face-stuffer
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Falling for Tennessee
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Frog Month
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It’s not a pinecone, it’s a pangolin
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’Chess on ice’
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Río Arazas in Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, Spain
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Going head-to-head with winter
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Womens History Month
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A day of death and rebirth
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Seasonal lights dazzle in Japan
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The puffin-rabbit connection
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Celebrating the Acadians
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Wyoming celebrates its statehood
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Wildlife crossing, Wierden, Netherlands
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Pegadung Rock, Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia
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A dramatic view of Sicily
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Celebrating all things Austen
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Happy Pi Day!
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Black History Month