[Coral-List] mangroves and buffer zone

[Les Kaufman]

I do not know of examples of mangrove buffer zones, but have seen a  
specific example of what happens when they are lacking.

Behind mangrove forests in mesic environments there is a transitional  
forest that is rich and unusual, and may play an important functional  
role in
linking mangrove to upland habitats.   It includes facultative  
mangrove-associated species such as (e.g., Caribbean) Pterocarpus  
officinalis, Hibiscus tiliaceus,
(e.g., Pacific) Heriteira littoralis- you get the picture.  This  
forest is often destroyed by land-based encroachment.  It can be very  
extensive- the Pterocarpus forests
of Belizean rivers extend along hundreds to thousands of meters of  
riverfront, which may provide some indication of their areal extent.   
These are now being
destroyed in several parts of Belize by new real estate developments.

Les