Why mangroves should be preserved...

Mangroves, are known as the "protector of shore-line", they grow between the coastline and the ocean, while absorbing all of the Oceans healing powers in order to provide micro-ecosystems for aquatic life.

"Mangroves not only help in preventing soil erosion but also act as a catalyst in reclaiming land from seas." This is very important, mangroves help stabilize and balance the force between Land and Water.  These trees are the breeding and nursery grounds for a number of marine organisms.

According to this study by oneocean.org "Mangroves are essential to fish production. They are extraordinary rich habitats that serve as life support systems to about 75 percent of fish species caught in the area as well as to indeterminate numbers of crustacean sand wildlife. Mangrove loss directly translates to losses in fish catch and food supply."

Because we strive to provide organic fresh food it is imperative that the resort take care of the land, in every aspect. Healthy waters and soil lead to healthy plants which lead to healthy fish and incredible dishes for all.

This article by the World Wildlife Fund, the Mangrove impacts four major categories including; Fisheries, Plant Products, Costal Protection, and Tourism; all of which affects directs PUNTACANA and those visiting as well as living within our resort directly. Please read below to get a better understanding of why these trees are indispensable.

• "Fisheries: Mangrove forests are home to a large variety of fish, crab, shrimp, and mollusk species. These fisheries form an essential source of food for thousands of coastal communities around the world. The forests also serve as nurseries for many fish species, including coral reef fish. A study on the Mesoamerican reef, for example, showed that there are as many as 25 times more fish of some species on reefs close to mangrove areas than in areas where mangroves have been cut down. This makes mangrove forests vitally important to coral reef and commercial fisheries as well.


• Timber and plant products: Mangrove wood is resistant to rot and insects, making it extremely valuable. Many coastal and indigenous communities rely on this wood for construction material as well as for fuel. These communities also collect medicinal plants from mangrove ecosystems and use mangrove leaves as animal fodder. Recently, the forests have also been commercially harvested for pulp, wood chip, and charcoal production.


• Coastal protection: The dense root systems of mangrove forests trap sediments flowing down rivers and off the land. This helps stabilizes the coastline and prevents erosion from waves and storms. In areas where mangroves have been cleared, coastal damage from hurricanes and typhoons is much more severe. By filtering out sediments, the forests also protect coral reefs and seagrass meadows from being smothered in sediment.


• Tourism: Given the diversity of life inhabiting mangrove systems, and their proximity in many cases to other tourist attractions such as coral reefs and sandy beaches, it is perhaps surprising that only a few countries have started to tap into the tourism potential of their mangrove forests. Places as diverse as Bonaire and offer snorkelling expeditions in and around mangroves to witness a marvellous variety of baby fish, jellyfish, and urchins against a magical background of interwoven roots delving deep into the sandy substrate. Great potential exists elsewhere for revenue generation in this manner, which values the mangroves intact and as they stand."

For more information about our Ecological endeavors please visit www.puntacana.org and don't forget that we also offer volunteer packages for those looking to stay with us. So long for now, we'll leave you with this short video of a private beach found within our resort  that is lined with mangroves.