Molly McCrory (Tulane College) writes about Dr. Daniel Friess (Cochran Household Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Tulane College) and his analysis on coastal areas and communities, mangroves, and mangrove restoration—matters close to and pricey to our linked Caribbean hearts. [Many thanks to Angie Lamoli Silvestry for bringing this item to our attention.]
Daniel Friess, the Cochran Household Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Tulane College, retains it easy when explaining why mangroves, his space of research, are so particular. “They’re simply superior.”
Mangroves, that are vegetation identified for his or her giant, uncovered roots and which usually develop in salt water, are discovered alongside coastlines in tropical and subtropical environments world wide, from Southeast Asia to Madagascar to proper right here in Louisiana, however they’re increasing north as temperatures enhance.
“There’s type of a standard false impression that mangroves like to be flooded as a result of they’re by the ocean,” stated Friess, “however no, they hate it!” Mangroves have been capable of adapt to surviving in saltwater environments, however they will solely take a lot earlier than they start to die. As sea ranges rise, mangroves could be pushed to their limits faster than they will adapt, which Friess says is the largest menace to mangroves proper now.
Friess joined Tulane’s college in 2022. He obtained his PhD from the College of Cambridge in 2009 learning English salt marshes, earlier than shifting to Singapore to work as a researcher for 2 years and a college member for 11 years, the place he fell in love with mangroves. “Working in Southeast Asia, you simply noticed how vital this ecosystem was for folks,” he stated. “It wasn’t simply an space of analysis. It wasn’t simply an instructional matter.”
His work conserving and restoring mangroves had a tangible affect on communities. Friess considers his time working with NGOs, firms and communities as one thing that has massively benefitted his work, altering how he approaches and communicates his analysis.
One of many central elements of Friess’ analysis is blue carbon, natural carbon that’s saved in coastal wetlands. In a terrestrial forest, for instance, branches and leaves fall to the bottom and, over time, get damaged down by micro organism. The carbon in these branches and leaves then will get launched again into the environment.
“However with coastal wetlands akin to mangroves, the soil is waterlogged as a result of the tide is coming in a few instances a day, so that you don’t have the identical microbes and stuff, so that you don’t get the identical type of breakdown,” stated Friess, “so extra carbon that comes from the tree simply will get saved within the soil over 1000’s of years.”
As mangrove forests are misplaced, this carbon storage will not be as efficient or could be misplaced fully when the brand new makes use of for the land disturbs the carbon that’s saved. Coastal areas are additionally extra weak to erosion from storms, and lots of fish, who use mangroves as nurseries, lose their habitats. For this reason one other giant a part of Friess’ work has to do with mangrove restoration. Restoration is extra than simply planting mangroves in tidal zones, nonetheless.
“If you happen to plant it however the surroundings has been modified, they’re all going to die,” Friess stated, “and that’s what has occurred in lots of initiatives in Southeast Asia, for instance,” the place mangrove forests have been transformed into shrimp ponds and plantations.
“It’s more durable and slower to repair the surroundings, however when you try this, you may not even have to plant as a result of there’ll simply be plenty of pure regeneration as quickly because the situations are proper,” he added.
This restoration work is vital not just for analysis, it’s also important for native communities and organizations inquisitive about utilizing the carbon seize skills of mangrove forests for mitigating local weather change.
“Mangrove forests are considered one of many potential options to assist contribute to mitigating local weather change,” stated Friess, “and nowhere are the advantages of wetlands extra vital than in Louisiana. Louisiana is the house of wetland science, and it has been for many years, so the place higher to be?”
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For authentic article, see https://information.tulane.edu/information/mangroves-are-just-awesome-says-tulane-researcher
[Shown above: Daniel Friess, the Cochran Family Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Tulane, studies mangroves around the world. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Friess).]