The world’s mangrove forests are bouncing back. That’s good news for our coasts and climate

talented young photographer/Getty Mangroves are perplexing plants. They breathe through their roots, appear to stand on stilts and grow best in hot, salty seawater drawn in and out by the tide. Historically, mangrove forests have been dismissed as inhospitable places to avoid and have been extensively cleared. But these fascinating trees are now gaining attention for how they support biodiversity, store carbon and buffer the effects of storms, cyclones and tsunamis. Since 1984, scientists have…