黄昏时的红树林，瓦拉基里海滩，松巴岛，印度尼西亚 Mangrove trees at twilight, Walakiri Beach, island of Sumba, Indonesia (© Boonchet Ch./Getty Images)

黄昏时的红树林，瓦拉基里海滩，松巴岛，印度尼西亚 Mangrove trees at twilight, Walakiri Beach, island of Sumba, Indonesia (© Boonchet Ch./Getty Images)

潮汐的守护者 Sentinels of the tide

保护红树林生态系统国际日

当暮色降临印度尼西亚松巴岛的瓦拉基里海滩时，红树林的剪影宛如潮汐中的哨兵般矗立，既优雅又坚韧，充满生命力。今天是国际红树林生态系统保护日，让我们向这些在维系地球生命中发挥至关重要作用的非凡树木致以敬意。

红树林是大自然的海岸卫士。它们弯曲的根系可过滤盐分，使其能够在其他树木难以生长的咸水环境中茁壮成长，牢牢扎根于咸淡水交汇处，抵御潮汐与流沙的冲刷。红树林能有效防止海岸侵蚀，为沿海社区抵御风暴提供屏障，同时为无数海洋生物提供育幼场所。它们盘根错节的根系不仅稳固沉积物，还为幼鱼、螃蟹以及鸟类提供庇护。红树林的碳储存能力远超大多数森林，是应对气候变化的重要自然盟友。然而，由于过度开发、污染以及海平面上升，红树林正以惊人的速度消失。让我们以今天为新的起点，通过教育、修复和倡导，共同努力保护这一关键生态系统。因为，守护红树林，就是守护我们的未来。

International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem

As twilight descends on Walakiri Beach on the island of Sumba, Indonesia, the silhouettes of mangrove trees stand like sentinels in the tide—graceful, resilient, and vital. Today, on International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, we honor these extraordinary trees and the critical role they play in sustaining life on our planet.

Mangroves are nature's coastal guardians. With their arching and salt-filtering roots, they thrive where few trees can—anchored in brackish water, enduring tides and shifting sands. They protect shorelines from erosion, buffer communities against storms, and serve as nurseries for countless marine animals. Their tangled root systems not only stabilize sediment but also provide shelter for juvenile fish, crabs, and birds. Mangroves also trap carbon at rates far higher than most forests, making them powerful allies in the fight against climate change. Yet they are disappearing at an alarming rate due to development, pollution, and rising sea levels. Let this day be a call to action. Whether through education, restoration, or advocacy, we all have a role in preserving these vital ecosystems. Because when we protect mangroves, we protect the future.