A Love Letter to Our Mangroves

By Carrie Schuman, Ph.D., Coastal Resilience Manager

Snorkeling or paddling through a tangle of red mangroves reveals a swell of life in these essential forests fringing our coastlines. Prop roots are dotted with small, camouflaged crabs. Mangrove snapper and snook can be found in shadowy stretches of turbid water.

But perhaps the most beautiful features in this waterscape are the multitude of tiny organisms encrusting directly on mangrove roots. Globe-like sea squirts crowd in among colorful orange and purple tunicates as sheepshead prey on fast-growing oysters.

Healthy mangroves are the basis of thriving coastal ecosystems. They provide nursery habitat for young fish and invertebrates that support our local commercial and sport fisheries, as well as protection for the endangered small-toothed sawfish.

Branches serve as roosting sites for wading birds, such as herons, egrets, ibises, and spoonbills as well as diving birds, including pelicans, cormorants, and anhingas.

This love for—and awe—of our mangroves is felt across SCCF and much of the greater island community. Sanibel Sea School Director Shannon Rivard describes how Sea School staff channel that wonder to make local and visiting kids truly invested in these habitats. “Mangrove mud walks pull people together in uncontrollable laughter or mutual disgust, but either way you never forget it,” she said.

Post-Ian, our mangroves are visibly damaged. Many are expected to recover and new mangroves will populate areas where the coastal tree canopy has opened, but this regrowth will take time. SCCF is carefully documenting this recovery through tools such as a time-lapse camera system recently installed near the Marine Lab with grant support from the Sanibel Flyfishers.

The restoration and preservation of these nurseries to the seas and storm wave-breakers for the land is vital. Ultimately, maintaining our strong island ethos of thoughtful balance with the natural world may be the most important expression of our love for her.

ACQUISITION OF MacKEEVER KEYS

Those who love to fish and to bird keenly understand the value of mangroves, which provide habitat for important fish nurseries and bird rookeries. SCCF’s recent acquisition of MacKeever Keys off the southwestern tip of Pine Island supports their critical role as we face challenges posed by climate change. Hurricane Ian, which is representative of a trend of intensifying hurricanes, has been our most immediate example.

“With the recent impacts of Ian, we know the wide-ranging benefits that mangroves provide to our communities in Southwest Florida,” said SCCF CEO James Evans. “This acquisition will ensure that these 25 mangrove islands and the wildlife habitat that they provide will be protected for future generations.”

The lands were purchased using the SCCF’s Land Acquisition & Improvement Fund, which was created by an anonymous donor who wanted monies to be available when opportunities arose for preserving environmentally sensitive lands.

Eden Oak Denial Centered On Role Of Mangroves

The value of mangroves and how they protected homes during Hurricane Ian took center stage in April when the Lee County Board of County Commissioners unanimously denied a request to rezone coastal wetlands for the Eden Oak housing development.

West of Shell Point Boulevard, the proposed project in a Coastal High Hazard Zone would destroy more than 35 acres of mangroves and bring in up to nine feet of fill to allow the construction of 55 single-family homes and a docking facility.

The rezoning denial came after more than seven years of work and dedication by members of the community and SCCF who voiced concerns and provided scientific evidence of the project’s environmental impacts. (See page 9 for more details.)

Residents of properties adjacent to the proposed development spoke about their experiences in Hurricane Ian, including former SCCF Trustee Paul Roth who described the difference that living by the mangroves made with storm surge. “We did not leave our home during the storm and therefore we were eyewitnesses to the impacts of raging water driven by 150 mph winds,” Roth said. “I’m convinced that the mangrove area sitting some feet below our lot saved us from serious flood damage.”

Homes on the other side of Shell Point Boulevard at the same elevation, on a golf course, had a totally different experience. “More than 90 percent of those houses were uninhabitable for over six months,” resident Ralph Clark reported.

In introducing the motion to dismiss the request, Commissioner Kevin Ruane lauded the role of mangroves. “The mangroves did exactly what they were intended to do. And with that in mind, my motion is for a complete denial,” he said.

ADOPT-A-MANGROVE PROGRAM STRONGER THAN EVER

SCCF’s Coastal Watch currently has hundreds of volunteers nurturing “adopted” mangrove seedlings at their homes to prepare them for planting at restoration sites around the island — earning them the official titles of Mangrove Mama or Propagule Papa.

“I decided to adopt mangroves to help make Sanibel stronger after Hurricane Ian.” — Michael

“I’m convinced that the mangrove area sitting some feet below our lot saved us from serious flood damage.”

Paul Roth, former SCCF Trustee

Stay informed of future adoption opportunities by subscribing to the Coastal Watch newsletter at sccf.org.