[TEMP] Mangroves Save Coastal Village from Storm Surge Damage

When a severe storm struck Guyana's coast last month, the village of Hope was largely spared from flooding thanks to the dense mangrove forest that fronts the community.

Neighboring areas without mangrove protection experienced significant damage, with floodwaters reaching homes and destroying crops.

"The mangroves saved us," said village leader Marcus Williams. "We saw the waves break against the forest while other villages were flooded."

This event provides compelling evidence for the value of mangrove conservation as a coastal protection strategy.