Sinking and Shrinking Mangroves

       One of the consequences of global warming is rising sea-levels, which will have negatively and will continue to negatively impact the mangroves.  Mangroves exist on the shoreline between the average sea level and the average high tides.  So, rising sea-levels could push mangroves inward.  

Lonely Mangrove

However, if the rate of the sea-level rising is more than the rate of sedimentation, many mangroves will not be able to take the stress and will die.  History has shown that under such conditions, mangroves grow individually. 

       Ocean levels have risen 15cm this past century, and it is estimated that they will continue to rise between 15 and 95 cm by 2100.  Higher sea-levels cause floods, which in turn cause saltwater to flood into fresh water, a drastic change for such an eco-system.  Mangroves will die if the water is too high or too salty.  

        These changes will be too sudden for mangroves to adapt to, and those able to adapt will outcompete the others, leading to a loss of biodiversity.

Flooded Mangrove Forest

       Even if restoration projects are implanted,  sea-levels cannot be controlled isolated, because they are dependent on temperature rising, which is a global problem.  Furthermore, temperatures are expected to rise between 1 and 3.5 degrees Celsius by 2100.  How drastically they rise will determine the severity of the damage rising sea-levels will inflict on the mangroves in Fiji.

       Since Fiji is made up of small islands, if the islands enclose there will be little land left.  As one native said, "we will have nowhere to go."  Recent research in the past two years sets a brim forecast for the Fijian mangroves, suggesting that the mangroves will diminish between 5 and 20%---and this is just from rising sea-levels, one of the many influences on mangroves.

Works Cited:
Noye, John, and Marcus Grzechnik. Sea-level Changes and Their Effects. Singapore: World Scientific, 2001. Print.

Ellison, JC (2010) Vulnerability of Fiji's mangroves and associated coral reefs to climate change. A        Review. In: Global Conservation Organisation National Stakeholders Meeting , 19 March 2009, Suva  Fiji. Other. World Wildlife Fund South Pacific Programme.

Picture Citations:
http://www.ecologyasia.com/images-pqr/pandan-mangroves_8452.jphttp://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/277045/277045,1276342155,1/stock-photo-  lonely-mangrove-tree-55037563.jpg