Southern Florida, known for many infamous hurricanes, discovered a new way of defending the fragile shoreline with the use of red mangrove trees. These protectors have gained popularity because they actively shield the coastline from dangerous storms.
The Role of Red Mangroves:
With the recent influx of hurricanes throughout Southwest Florida, the importance of red mangroves has increased. Red mangroves serve as a purpose to buffer and withhold the rising sea levels caused by major hurricanes hitting the coast (Kelso, 2025.) They also help to reduce property damage and withstand erosion to the beaches. For example, Hurricane Ian left Fort Myers and Sanibel Island in ruins. However, the red mangroves provided some structure against the storm surge…