Mangroves (2)

It is hard to love that which you do not know. Ocean Expo Park in the northern part of Okinawa does its best to show us the marine life that ecologists ask us to care about. We know we are supposed to protect mangrove forests because they guard the sub-tropical coastlines and provide a habitat where delicate creatures can be nurtured.

It is not hard to see mangrove forests above the waterline--tangled branches and lush leaves, not so different from other trees. But it is below the waterline that they do their best work. The photo below is from an exhibit at Ocean Expo Park.

Not many trees manage to shelter birds and fishes at the same time, but that is what mangroves do. In this exhibit, you can see them at work.