Mangrove Forests
Along Florida's south coast and halfway up the peninsula, mangrove swamps hug the shoreline. These dense forests grow at the high tide line, and help stabilize the shoreline, filter pollution, and provide nesting and nursery areas for many aquatic organisms.
They are particularly threatened by shoreline development and pollution. This ecosystem now has legal protection. Trails in Everglades National Park, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Collier Seminole State Park, and Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge are just a few places to view this fascinating natural community.
Learn More
- UF/IFAS EDIS Fact Sheet: Avicennia germinans, Black Mangrove
- UF/IFAS EDIS Fact Sheet: Laguncularia racemosa, White Mangrove
- UF/IFAS EDIS Fact Sheet: Rhizophora mangle, Red Mangrove