This mangrove island in the Pelican Cays, Belize, was clear-cut and filled with dredged sand and coral from the adjacent reef flat. Developers are clearing and dredging mangroves in an attempt to create sand-based islands for tourists. Unfortunately, mangroves help prevent erosion and submergence of islands due to sea-level rise and after mangrove removal, islands rapidly erode and sink. More about mangroves can be found in our Mangroves featured story.