Mangroves are one of the most important ecosystems on Earth. That dense, tangled network stabilizes coastlines, buffering against storms and erosion. Their roots provide nurseries for fish, crustaceans, and birds. And perhaps most importantly, mangroves are enormous carbon sinks. As a blue carbon ecosystem, they pull carbon from the atmosphere and lock it away for centuries. If you’ve spent time near mangroves, now’s your chance to share your wildlife, underwater, landscape, and conservation photos. The 12th annual MangrovePhotographyAwards are open for submissions, with $7,000 in cash prizes. An initiative of MangroveActionProject, the awards celebrate the beauty and fragility of mangroves through visual storytelling. Entries close June 1st. Check out MangrovePhotographyAwards to learn more! Photos by Mitty #OceanSchool #Mangroves #MPA26 #MangrovePhotographyAwards