New Delhi, May 5 -- Mangroves may not look like much at first glance. Their tangled roots grow in muddy water. Their small leaves don't stand out. They grow quietly where the land meets the sea. But mangroves are one of the most powerful tools we have to fight climate change and protect nature.

They protect coastlines from storms, store huge amounts of carbon in their roots and soil, help fish and shrimp grow and clean the water. They also support the lives of over 120 million people around the world.

Yet, for decades, we have treated them as disposable components of the ecosystem. Industries like shrimp farming, salt production and rice cultivation have cut down mangrove forests to make space for their work.

These three industries of...