Did you know that wetlands are also vital to the planet’s health?

Wetlands occur where water meets land. They’re areas of land like lakes, saltmarshes, lagoons or mangrove forests that are either permanently or seasonally inundated with water and support species that are adapted to living there. Just like forests, they’re critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate change, freshwater availability, global economies and much more.

Mangroves are not only champions of carbon capture, they also protect our coasts from storm surges caused by rising sea levels and the changing global climate. And if that wasn’t enough, their unique ecosystem offers a home and shelter to a myriad of fish, animals and birds.

But here’s the thing. Despite their importance to our planet, mangroves are disappearing three times faster than terrestrial forests, making them the Earth’s most threatened ecosystem. And that’s exactly what’s happening in the Dominican Republic, where one of the most critical environmental problems is the loss and degradation of its mangrove forests.

So to help with this, the TUI Care Foundation is working to restore over 200 hectares of mangrove forest in the Manglares del Bajo Yuna National Park, the largest but most threatened wetland in the country, in the north-eastern part of the island. It’s also creating new economic opportunities by providing a strong link to the vibrant tourism sector on the island. You can read all about the TUI Forest Dominican Republic project.

Why not join us in protecting the Earth’s wetlands by adopting a mangrove? Just click on the TUI Care Foundation’s Premium Adoption link and select the Dominican Republic as your country.

Thank you for supporting a healthier future for the planet’s mangrove forests!