Griffith’s Mangrove Apple, Sonneratia griffithii

"The rare Sonneratia griffithii is distributed in parts of India and southeast Asia, where a combined 80% loss of all mangrove area has occurred within its patchy range over the past 60 years" - Polidoro, Beth A., et al. "The Loss of Species: Mangrove Extinction Risk and Geographic Areas of Global Concern." Mangrove forests are critical ecosystems, providing habitat for terrestrial and marine species, as well as much needed protection from erosion and storms for communities who live along the coast. Their numbers are in decline worldwide due to development and agriculture. The Indo-Malay Philippine Archipelago, where Sonneratia griffithii is located, has one of the highest rates of mangrove forest loss globally, mostly due to clearing for shrimp and fish aquaculture.