Mangroves are salt-tolerant coastal forests that play a vital role in protecting the environment. They shield shorelines from storms and erosion while providing critical habitat for marine life and migratory birds. Yet half of the world's mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse by 2050, according to the Global Mangrove Alliance. China began protecting its mangrove forests in the 1980s. In 2020, it launched a five-year action plan to restore and add 18,800 hectares (46,500 acres) of mangrove