Mangroves of Oceania 1980 - 2005 : country reports = Les mangroves d'Oceanie1980 - 2005 : rapports nationaux

Abstract

Mangroves are commonly found along sheltered coastlines in the tropics and subtropics where they fulfil important socio-economic and environmental functions. These include the provision of a large variety of wood and non-wood forest products; coastal protection against the effects of wind, waves and water currents; conservation of biological diversity, including a number of endangered mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds; protection of coral reefs, sea-grass beds and shipping lanes against siltation; and provision of habitat, spawning grounds and nutrients for a variety of fish and shellfish, including many commercial species.