Mangroves are magic to our ecosystems. Three species of mangroves are found in Palm Beach County. They are the Red Mangrove, Black Mangrove, and White Mangrove. Typically, Red Mangroves grow along the water's edge, Black Mangroves grow on slightly higher elevations than the Red Mangrove, and White Mangroves grow upland from the red and black. Mangroves line estuaries and canals, providing food, shelter, and hunting grounds for animals.

Mangroves also provide shoreline protection from wind, waves, and erosion. This ecosystem occurs in tidally influenced areas where strong ocean wave action is absent and where salt and freshwater mix. Soils are sandy, nutrient-rich, saline, and usually oxygen deficient. This plant system diversity provides one of the most productive nursery habitats for fish, shellfish, birds, and other estuarine wildlife. 

Red mangroves play an important part in the restoration work in Lake Worth Lagoon and Palm Beach County natural areas. Tens of thousands of these trees have been planted over the last 20 years to create wildlife-rich areas such as South Cove and Snook Islands natural areas in Lake Worth Lagoon and Frenchman's Forest in Palm Beach Gardens and Juno Dunes natural areas in Juno Beach.

Learn more about Palm Beach County's natural areas here: pbcnaturalareas.com