Mangroves: The Ocean’s Unsung Heroes
Tacloban City, Philippines
2019, Junior, Film
Reflection
Reflection
In every aspect of life, there will always be those we know as our unsung heroes. These are the people who are somehow able to change the lives of many, no matter how ordinary of a person they are. Such is the case of our mangroves. Though many think of them of simply another pile of branches and leaves, they are worth so much more. It is no secret that the Philippines is practically engulfed in water. As an archipelago consisting of 7,461 islands, there is bound to be at least one body of water nearby. However, this only makes the country more susceptible to natural disasters, such as typhoons. This is where the mangroves come in. They act as a sort of barrier, our first line of defense against the raging floods. If they are wiped out, it diminishes the chance of chaos being prevented. Additionally, mangroves act as homes, nurseries, and breeding grounds for many marine species. This is imperative with the condition of today’s ocean and seas, which are becoming more and more unsafe due to climate change, though mangroves also play a part in reducing its effects on the Earth, for they can retain more carbon dioxide than most trees, reducing the amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. There is so much more to mangroves than what meets the eye. If more people gave them the attention they deserved, we could be able to save our planet faster and more effectively. It would save lives.