Invasive species threaten Brazil’s mangroves

In May 2023, biologists Geraldo Esink and Edmar Hatamura were surprised by a white flower while walking through a mangrove in São Paulo, Cuba.

These plants have been growing in trees for 30 years. After collecting specimens, with the experience of marine photographer and mangrove specialist Zara Shaffer-Noble, they identified Sonneratia apetala, a mangrove species from South Asia.

I first wrote about this topic elsewhere on America.com.

The reason for this finding was immediately apparent.

Within a few months, Esink and Hatamura found 80 of these plants; now there are more than 250, with new specimens appearing every time they entered the mangrove forest.

“Mangroves are home to fish, crustaceans, and many species of shellfish.

“If Sonneratia apetala spreads, it could threaten the lives of all these animals and over 400,000 people along the Brazilian coast,” said Esink.

Native to India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, scientists believe it arrived in Brazil through pesticides transported from China to the Gulf of Santos.

Ideally, when a ship sinks, the ballast water is removed, and other organisms are immediately released into the ecosystem.

A Setback for the Mangroves

Mangue Kubat is part of the 12,000 hectares of mangrove in Baixada Santista, which have long been affected by urbanization.

As such, in the 1970s, the mangroves were known as some of the most polluted places in the world.

Since 1994, the IOC has been working with a team of biologists from the Environmental Company of São Paulo (CETSOB) and local fishermen to restore mangrove forests in Cubao, Cuba, successfully restoring 1,200 hectares.

However, the SS offensive…

We also heard opinions from experts in the United States and China.

Therefore, the goal is to protect the local inventory.

The biologist stated that efforts to eradicate the Hong Kong mango species have been ongoing for eight years.

In a statement released in August, more than a year after the discovery in Brazil, the Forestry Foundation said it had worked with Evama and local scientists to analyze the problem and planned to remove trees from August to November, but this request had not been officially announced.

Considering the protection of the mangroves, President Obama should agree to cut the initial trees in this area.

Source of information: brasil.mongabay.com

\