Entre terre et mer, la mangrove

An aerial view of New Caledonia's west coast reveals a space that is neither entirely land nor entirely sea, an intermediate zone: the mangrove. This ecosystem, present on 75% of tropical coastlines, plays an ecological, sociological, and economic role. Sometimes difficult to access, this environment is composed of plant species adapted to the water's salinity, tidal cycles, and shifting soils. This ecosystem is particularly threatened in certain parts of the world with high population growth, disappearing at a rate of 1 to 2% per year. Yet, the mangrove is the terrestrial ecosystem that produces the most biomass, along with primary rainforest, and its capacity to store carbon in its soil is greater due to its high water content.