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
More Desktop Wallpapers:
- 
					Raise your hand for Teacher Appreciation Day
- 
					Jazzed for Mardi Gras
- 
					Monarch butterflies, Pismo Beach, California
- 
					Birds of a feather
- 
					Tufa formations in Mono Lake, California
- 
					The aftermath of a meteorite
- 
					Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy
- 
					Oymyakon, Russia
- 
					Great hornbill, Thailand
- 
					Fly me to the moon
- 
					Clouds over the River of Grass
- 
					Henningsvær Stadion, Norway
- 
					Ludwig’s palace
- 
					The Cordillera de la Sal in the Cordillera Domeyko Range of Chile
- 
					Notes from an underground lake
- 
					Happy Astronomy Day!
- 
					Sunrise at Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
- 
					A winter wonderland in Northeast China
- 
					Christmas Bird Count
- 
					How do ladybugs winter?
- 
					Love on ice
- 
					National Moth Week
- 
					Honoring the rangers on World Ranger Day
- 
					A place fit for the gods
- 
					Arbor Day
- 
					Sundance Film Festival
- 
					A hint of spring
- 
					Hallstatt, Austria
- 
					Tigh Mor Trossachs on Loch Achray, Scotland
- 
					Aloe in bloom
 Bing Wallpaper Gallery
Bing Wallpaper Gallery 
	
