As well as providing a buffer against tidal storm surges, mangroves provide critical habitat to sustain local fisheries. Planting (or reestablishing) mangrove forests, as is being done in Indonesia and elsewhere, is several times cheaper than building flood protection infrastructure. The benefits of mangrove preservation and restoration are worth up to ten times the cost, including not just avoided losses from coastal flooding, but also the benefits associated with fisheries, forestry, and recreation.
