When seeking to establish natural protection measures against natural disasters, it is essential to consider the presence of healthy ecosystems. Although this may seem obvious, it is often ignored in urban planning and real estate development. Every year, as the human population and the demand for new housing grow, hectares of forests and mangroves are razed to make way for infrastructure. However, this practice has devastating consequences for our environment and our safety.
Mangroves, for example, serve as a natural shield against hurricanes. This statement has been supported by numerous environmental experts who warn about the negative impact of the growing demand for real estate in idyllic locations like Quintana Roo, Mexico, where deforestation endangers not only the ecosystem but also the lives of the people who live in these vulnerable areas.
Mangrove ecosystems are of a priceless valueThey provide multiple environmental services: protect against coastal erosion, produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, mitigate strong winds and are home to a wide variety of marine species, including fish and mollusks that are essential for human consumption. It is estimated that for every mangrove species destroyed, 767 kg of commercial marine species are lost each year, endangering not only the biodiversity, but also our food security.
This is particularly relevant in the case of Cancún, where after a hurricane, areas where mangroves have been cleared often experience the worst devastation. Ella Vásquez, researcher and academic secretary of the Institute of Ecology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), points out that "every time a hurricane hits, the impacts are more severe in those regions where mangroves have been cleared."
In addition to their function as a natural barrier, mangroves offer numerous economic and social benefitsThey are extracted for construction timber, harvested for salt, and used in recreational activities such as water sports. However, the challenge lies in the fact that if we exploit these ecosystems faster than they can recover, extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, will wreak unprecedented havoc on our coasts. This raises a critical question for society: Is it more important to have attractive waterfront housing today, or to ensure a vibrant and healthy natural environment for future generations?
The impact of hurricanes has become more evident in recent years. In 2019, more than 90 named storms were recorded, and 62 full days of Category 3 or higher tropical cyclones were recorded. One of the most destructive hurricanes was Hurricane Dorian, which swept through the northern Bahamas with winds of up to 300 km/h (17 mph), affecting 15 countries and 2019 U.S. states. However, Dorian was not the most intense of XNUMX; Typhoon Halong in the western Pacific achieved a higher magnitude, although it weakened upon reaching the coast, thus limiting its devastation.
In 2020, NOAA reported that the Atlantic hurricane season broke the record for the most tropical and subtropical storms in a single year, with a total of 30 storms. This surpassed the previous mark, which had been set in 2005, and serves as a reminder of the increasing intensity of extreme weather events in our era. For example, Hurricane IOTA, which devastated 98% of a 7-kilometer island in Colombia, caused significant flooding in several countries in Central and northern South America.
The need to protect these ecosystems becomes urgent. To address this problem, studying mangroves' capacity to act as a first line of coastal defense is essential. Recent research has shown that, in areas protected by mangroves, flood risk can be significantly reduced, avoiding economic losses that can amount to hundreds of billions of dollars.
A study published in the journal Nature assesses flood risk globally along 700,000 km of coastline and in 59 countries. The data highlights that, in areas where mangroves are an integral part of the ecosystem, flooding is estimated to be avoided. losses of more than $730,000 billion each yearIf these ecosystems did not exist, losses would increase by at least an additional $65,000 billion annually.
These ecosystems not only protect material goods, but also have a direct impact on reducing the number of people exposed to coastal flooding. It is estimated that mangroves help safeguard approximately 15 million people each year worldwide, thus providing an invaluable service to vulnerable communities.
The economic implications of mangrove conservation are clear. It is essential to consider that for every dollar invested in restoring and conserving these ecosystems, 20% of the total can be generated. significant savings in terms of infrastructure spending and disaster recovery. Investing in nature translates into an effective strategy not only for saving lives but also for reducing the costs of natural disaster recovery.
Mangroves act as a green infrastructure. Their coastal development and aquaculture have driven a Reduction in mangrove area of more than 20% between 1980 and the early 2000s. This decline, although slower, continues through urban expansion, pollution, and agriculture. Therefore, it is vital to view mangroves as national infrastructure and allocate funding for mitigation and recovery from extreme climate events.
Mangrove restoration should be subsidized in the same way that seawall and levee construction is funded. Innovations are emerging around insurance for natural systems, such as those developed in Mexico's coral reefs and throughout the Caribbean, which could serve as a model for a similar approach to mangroves. The joint conservation of mangroves and coral reefs can multiply protection against flooding and other climate events, thus maximizing economic and social benefits.
Furthermore, organizations such as the World Bank are collaborating with developing countries to explore how to include the benefits of mangroves in government accounts. The creation of a Green Climate Fund, designed to help these countries adapt to and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, underscores the need for an integrated approach to nature conservation and sustainable development.
Protecting and restoring mangrove forests is an extremely cost-effective strategy that can provide coastal communities with the protection they need from tropical storms and coastal erosion. As climate change continues to intensify extreme weather events, the role of coastal ecosystems becomes increasingly essential to ensuring the resilience of our communities. scientific evidence supports the idea that investing in mangrove conservation is not only beneficial from an ecological perspective, but also from an economic and social perspective.
Mangroves not only provide protection from hurricanes but are also vital for biodiversity conservation. Their importance extends to the way climate change impacts various ecosystems. The relationship between these factors is crucial to understanding how we should manage our coastal areas.
In addition to their ecological function, mangroves are fundamental in the economic and social context. Investing in their conservation can generate both immediate and long-term benefits. Sustainable mangrove management can contribute to resilience to natural disasters, ensuring a better future for coastal communities.
Let us not forget that the loss of mangroves also means the reduction of essential services that benefit millions of people. The restoration and conservation of these ecosystems must be a global priority, as their destruction directly affects our well-being.
The future of our coasts depends on responsible and sustainable actions. Restoring mangroves is a key step toward a safer and more resilient future. We must work together to protect these ecosystems and ensure they can continue to provide their services to future generations.
It seems very good to me that we are helping nature as we should because yes if we do not take care of nature the planet will end and we will regret it
I hope you liked my comment a lot because if we do not take care of the planet that will be of our life without nature and I want to write a comment this time that you will like it very much I want to say that we take great care of our city because look at what happened in Ecuador
I like it because it has things that I don't know and that is weird because I love science and violence
but i learned something nubian