Mangroves have a remarkable trick — they can live in salty sea water that would kill most other plants. Their roots grow in long arching curves called prop roots or stilt roots, which anchor the tree in the soft mud and also stick up above the water like snorkels to help the tree breathe. From above, a mangrove forest looks like a green jigsaw puzzle floating on the water.
The root network is one of the best nurseries in nature. Hundreds of species of small fish, shrimps, crabs and other sea creatures shelter among the roots when they are young and vulnerable. The thick tangles of roots protect baby animals from bigger predators. When those animals grow up and move to the reef or the open sea, the whole ocean ecosystem is healthier because of the mangroves.
Mangroves also protect Saint Lucia's coastline. When big waves arrive during storms, the forest acts like a sponge and a wall — slowing the water down and stopping it from washing away the land behind it. Scientists consider mangroves to be one of the most valuable ecosystems on Earth, because they do so many important jobs at the same time.