by Michael Chévez Valverde
We enter with our boat into a magical world that very few people know. It is a magical environment of water and those strange trees whose roots grow on the surface on the banks of the river and also give dense shade with green foliage: the mangroves. Intuitively we lower our voices; it’s like entering a large sanctuary.
It is part of an ecosystem of great importance in tropical environments. The most amazing things about mangroves are their ability to adapt to the natural elements around them, and to perform the multiple functions necessary.
Adaptations: Their roots are very strong and flexible to withstand currents of rivers as well as the ocean tides. Other developments are their resistance to sea salt. Mangroves directly absorb nutrients from the water, while filtering and desalting through glands called lenticels.
Functions: Many marine species use these areas for reproduction, as breeding areas, or for food (hunting). In other words it is like a hotel, buffet, and nursery for many marine animals such as the edible and delicious red snapper, snook fish, rooster fish, eel, and mackerel. Other inhabitants are the inedible pufferfish, water fish, trumpet fish, and parrot fish. Many terrestrial species such as birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians also inhabit this paradise full of life.
Around the world there are over 60 species of mangrove; there are seven in Costa Rica and in Costa Ballena we have four with two sub species. Southern Costa Rica has 32% of mangroves of the country. They are located North of Dominical, at Uvita and the Térraba-Sierpe wetlands, which is the third largest in Latin America.
I cordially invite you to protect and visit this magical ecosystem!
