In Veracruz, Mexico, the conservation group REVIVE is working to restore entire mangrove habitats, rather than trees alone. Its approach combines raised planting mounds, inspired by Aztec farming, with the return of crocodiles.
Mangroves had been cut and burned to create space for cattle, causing the ground to sink. After early attempts to plant young trees failed, biologist Aníbal Ramírez Soto noticed that healthy mangroves grew in raised groups. His team used wetland soil to build hundreds of small mounds and planted around 2,000 trees on them.
When the team returned to count the trees, more than 4,000 had taken root. Additional young trees had arrived with the tides and established themselves on the mounds. The success encouraged a larger project involving 15,000 mounds across 40 hectares.
REVIVE has also released around 80 crocodiles since 2017, after hunting had removed them from the area. The team believes they move soil as they swim, keeping water channels open. However, crocodile specialist Charlie Manolis questions whether mangroves depend on crocodiles to remain healthy. Although he supports protecting the animals, he warns that they can be dangerous and stresses the importance of teaching communities how to live safely alongside them.
