South China's Guangdong features nation's largest mangrove coverage

Lush mangrove forests are thick with vegetation in Nansha district in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

South China's Guangdong province boasts of having the largest mangrove coverage in China, with a total area of 18,641 hectares, according to a recent forest survey.

According to the Department of Natural Resources of Guangdong province, the mangrove area is composed of 14,224 hectares of mangrove forests, 46 hectares of mangrove plants that have not yet developed into a forest, and 4,371 hectares of shoals suitable for mangroves.

A mangrove is a shrub or small tree that grows in coastal saline or brackish water, and is a significant player in disaster prevention and protection of species and the environment.