Mangrove trees are one of nature's most important and effective filters. They are able to remove many toxic chemicals, including heavy metals, and retain them in their tissues. Once the trees die and start to decay these toxins are released, but studies show that the uptake process is so effective and the return so slow that they reduce the concentrations of many toxic chemicals (often dramatically) for as long as the stand remains healthy. Unfortunately, the mangrove's ability to withstand toxins is not infinite, and in many places the natural mangrove swamps either have succumbed or are withering fast. From what I have heard from people at our local Department of Environmental Quality, the Saipan mangroves are in alarming decline.

Mangrove stands create habitats of productive extreme. It has been estimated that up to 80% of the global fish catch relies on mangrove forests, either directly or indirectly.

And, in our time of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and the resultant global warming, one should keep in mind that, acre by acre, mangrove habitat stores 3 to 5 times the amount of carbon stored in the Amazon rain forest and other more typical tropical forests.

Local attempts to increase the range of our mangroves have met with failure due to the level of pollution in our waters. It is crucial that we at least keep what we have.