Mangroves have shaped Earth’s coastlines since the time of the dinosaurs. From the Late Cretaceous through ice ages, mass extinctions, and shifting continents, these salt-tolerant forests have withstood the test of time. Yet today, human activity is fragmenting their habitats and accelerating their decline faster than nearly any other forest on Earth. Want to take action for mangroves today? Head to the link in bio. These images are drawn from the 11th Mangrove Photography Awards, which received a record-breaking 3,303 submissions from 78 countries, amplifying the stories of one of Earth’s most vital and endangered ecosystems! @mangrovephotographyawards @mangroveactionproject Photographer credits in order of how they appear: 1. Mark Ian Cook: A flock of Roseate Spoonbills glide over a lemon shark hunting mullet in the shallow, mangrove-lined waters of Florida Bay.     2. Shyjith Onden Cheriyath: Captured at dawn in the serene wetlands of Al Zorah Mangrove Reserve, UAE, this aerial photograph showcases a graceful formation of flamingos wading through still, shallow waters.  3. Alex Lindbloom: A large female cuttlefish pauses momentarily before continuing to lay eggs in the shallow reef beneath the mangroves. 4. Ramprasad Dutta: “In the Sundarbans, a massive crocodile rests near a tiny mudskipper. Despite the size difference, the fish shows no fear. Their contrasting colors create a rare, captivating moment in the wild 5. Kingshuk Partha: In the restricted waters of the Shibsha River in Khulna, Bangladesh, fishers defy seasonal bans, casting illegal nets in the Sundarbans buffer zone. 6. Kaushik Ghosh: The elusive tiger finally revealed itself in the afternoon, emerging beneath the Hental tree, like a blossom unfolding in the wild. #WorldMangroveDay #StandForNature #MPA25 #MangrovePhotographyAwards