CHALLENGES TO MANGROVES

TRIMMING STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT ONLY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS MAY TRIM MANGROVES. THE LAW SAYS THE MANGROVES MUST REMAIN “VIABLE” (ABLE TO SUPPORT LIFE). STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT ONLY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS MAY TRIM MANGROVES. THE LAW SAYS THE MANGROVES MUST REMAIN “VIABLE” (ABLE TO SUPPORT LIFE). CUTTING MANGROVE TREES BACK TO BUSHES REDUCES THEIR VIABILITY. CUTTING MANGROVE TREES BACK TO BUSHES REDUCES THEIR VIABILITY.

THEY ARE NO LONGER VIABLE IN CLEANING WATER, AIR, AND SOIL. THEY ARE NO LONGER VIABLE IN CLEANING WATER, AIR, AND SOIL. REPRODUCTION IS REDUCED. REPRODUCTION IS REDUCED. ANIMALS THAT ATTRACT TOURISM BECOME RARE OR EXTINCT. ANIMALS THAT ATTRACT TOURISM BECOME RARE OR EXTINCT. AQUATIC BABIES WILL LOSE SHELTER AND FOOD (DETRITUS). AQUATIC BABIES WILL LOSE SHELTER AND FOOD (DETRITUS).

SOLUTION TO TRIMMING RATHER THAN CUT DOWN THE TREES TO BUSHES, TRIM A FEW BRANCHES TO LOOK THROUGH. RATHER THAN CUT DOWN THE TREES TO BUSHES, TRIM A FEW BRANCHES TO LOOK THROUGH. BUILD A BOARDWALK AND/ OR PIER ABOVE THE MANGROVE MAKING NONAGRESSIVE OBSERVATION POSSIBLE. BUILD A BOARDWALK AND/ OR PIER ABOVE THE MANGROVE MAKING NONAGRESSIVE OBSERVATION POSSIBLE.

REPLACED BY SEAWALL NATURAL EBB AND FLOW IS REDUCED OR STOPPED. NATURAL EBB AND FLOW IS REDUCED OR STOPPED. BARRIER FOR STORM SURGES IS GONE. BARRIER FOR STORM SURGES IS GONE. SURFACE AREA FOR SESSILE HABITATS IS GREATLY REDUCED. SURFACE AREA FOR SESSILE HABITATS IS GREATLY REDUCED. BUILD UP OF TOXINS AND WASTES CAN OCCUR. BUILD UP OF TOXINS AND WASTES CAN OCCUR.

STORMWATER RUNOFF (“FIRST FLUSH”) PESTICIDES, HERBICIDES, & FUNGICIDES FROM LAWNS END UP IN THE WATER KILLING WILDLIFE AT MANY TROPHIC LEVELS. PESTICIDES, HERBICIDES, & FUNGICIDES FROM LAWNS END UP IN THE WATER KILLING WILDLIFE AT MANY TROPHIC LEVELS.

FERTILIZERS INCREASE EUTROPHICATION RESULTING IN ALGAE BLOOMS THAT REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF OXYGEN IN THE WATER. FERTILIZERS INCREASE EUTROPHICATION RESULTING IN ALGAE BLOOMS THAT REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF OXYGEN IN THE WATER. INCREASED ORGANIC MATTER AND DEBRIS DECOMPOSED USING UP DISSOLVED OXYGEN. INCREASED ORGANIC MATTER AND DEBRIS DECOMPOSED USING UP DISSOLVED OXYGEN.

DIRT AND CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS REDUCE THE CLARITY OF THE WATER THUS LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN THE SUBMERGED PLANTS. DIRT AND CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS REDUCE THE CLARITY OF THE WATER THUS LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN THE SUBMERGED PLANTS. INCREASED PLASTICS AND DEBRIS SLOWLY KILL ANIMALS. INCREASED PLASTICS AND DEBRIS SLOWLY KILL ANIMALS.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF JUST ONE ROAD IS ADDED TO THIS MANGROVE SWAMP?

THE NATURAL FLOW OF WATER IS REPLACED WITH SEAWALL AND MUCH MORE.

AND ONCE ONE ROAD IS BUILT...

MORE DEVEOPMENT,

AND EVEN MORE DEVELOPMENT TAKES OVER.

THE END??? THAT’S UP TO US.