A James Cook University report has revealed severe damage in about 80% of mangroves along the Great Barrier Reef, from Cairns to Gladstone.
JCU TropWATER researcher Professor Norm Duke said mangroves along the Great Barrier Reef coastline had not been surveyed to this extent before and results show vast damage.
“Our observations provide clear, unequivocal, and quantifiable evidence of changes to this increasingly dynamic shoreline,” he said.
“You can see how sea level rises are eating at the mangrove shoreline, where mangroves are simply collapsing into the sea edge.”
“The impact of severe tropical cyclones has battered the region over the past four decades, particularly Yasi in 2011 and Debbie in 2017. We can also see extensive shoreline tree loss from erosion, coupled with scouring erosion of salt pans, and retreat of terrestrial shorelines.”
“This is widespread evidence of rising sea levels.”
Mangroves are nature’s blue carbon powerhouses—capable of capturing and storing significant amounts of carbon, making them a vital tool in mitigating the climate crisis. They are also biodiversity hotspots that provide essential breeding grounds for native fish, while stabilizing coastline ecosystems and reducing erosion.