We should be genetically engineering mangroves to bear fruit and feed millions. With the coming shortage of freshwater due to climate change this could be a gamechanger
They have a propagule, not exactly a fruit. In theory you could engineer it to beef up the amount of starch in this seed, but you still have to reduce the amount of tannins so it's not bitter. Of course the bitterness keeps it from being eaten by everything in sight, so not sure how well it do in this modified form.
For the author of a now deleted comment, should they return.
Worldwide, failures to successfully rehabilitate mangroves are almost invariably associated with the same issues.
These are; poor site selection, choice of wrong species, unsuitable hydrological regime, absence of clearly defined goals and a lack of follow-up monitoring and maintenance.
Often, projects move immediately into planting of mangroves without determining first why natural recovery has not occurred.
Paling E. I. and Erftemeijer P. (2013) A review of mangrove rehabilitation and its application and implementation in Western Australia in regard to oil and gas development.
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As usual, Australia is Australia.
And is not necessary, because mangrove forests produce lots of food, but under the water.