Mangrove Loss Worldwide Is Now Reversing—with More, Denser Forests Than 20 Years Ago

The article references a 'landmark study' showing mangrove forest destruction has reversed in the last 20 years, with global mangrove coverage increasing and 'closed canopy' forests becoming denser. This aligns with peer-reviewed research (notably a 2022 Nature Geoscience study and ongoing monitoring by organizations like The Nature Conservancy) documenting mangrove recovery in certain regions after decades of decline.

The excerpt does not clarify geographic distribution of gains (recovery may be concentrated in specific regions while losses continue elsewhere), does not specify baseline comparison year precisely ('turn of the century' vs. specific date), and does not address whether increased density compensates for prior loss in ecosystem function or species habitat. Global trends mask important regional variation.