New Soil Health Index Reveals Stark Gaps in Mangrove Ecosystems
Scientists have developed a new Soil Health Insurance (SHI) to measure the condition of mangrove ecosystems. The tool scores soil vitality on a scale from 0 to 1, helping experts track degradation and restoration progress. Early results reveal stark differences between healthy and damaged mangrove sites.
The SHI combines physical, chemical, and biological data to assess soil function. In undisturbed mangroves, such as parts of the Sundarbans—the world's largest mangrove forest, spanning roughly 10,000 km²—scores neared 1. Meanwhile, severely degraded areas, like sections of the Cocó River estuary, recorded values as low as 0.25.
Tests in the Cocó estuary showed wide variation, with SHI readings ranging from 0.25 to 0.99. Restored sites fell in between, suggesting slow but measurable recovery. The index also highlights the urgency of global efforts like the Mangrove Breakthrough, which targets the rehabilitation of millions of hectares by 2030 to combat climate change.
Researchers plan to expand the SHI by analysing carbon storage in restored soils. Future work includes mapping soil health across entire mangrove regions. The tool can also be adjusted to reflect local priorities, such as flood protection or biodiversity conservation.
The SHI provides a clear way to compare mangrove health across different sites. By identifying areas needing intervention, it supports targeted restoration and conservation strategies. Further refinements could make it even more useful for large-scale ecosystem management.
