Cayes are very fragile areas as they are prime targets for tourism and other recreational development. Remember that with uncontrolled development irreparable damage can occur. Mangroves Belize, like other tropical and subtropical countries, has an ideal climate and other environmental factors such as salinity, tidal fluctuation, sedimentation and wave energy in which mangrove forests thrive. To many of us, mangroves may seem unappealing, so much that these fertile ecosystems have been seen as perfect dumpsites as well as areas to be drained, filled and cleared for development. Fortunately, their ecological importance has been recognised by scientists around the world, and efforts have been made to protect these productive and delicate ecosystems against encroachment and pollution so thay they can be kept as a link for the interchange with those other ecosystems to which they are intimately connected.
Mangroves are a group of woody salt tolerant trees that are adapted to grow in the intertidal zone.
They are highly productive ecosystems which provide essential nursery grounds for many marine species such as fish and lobster. They provide food and shelter for many organisms both above and below the water. Its propagules are bean-shaped. The propagules are very small. They are found mainly along the boundaries of wetlands or swamps.