In conclusion, this study demonstrates that evenmodest spatial and
temporal revegetation efforts can have positive outcomes that increase
the abundance and diversity of macrofaunal communities within mangrove
forests under threat from human activity. The results may have
similar relevance for other threatened coastal habitats such as seagrass
meadows, algal beds and coral communities. The restoration endpoints
achieved in this study (i.e., convergence with remnant forest) are not
the only ones against which revegetation efforts may be assessed. Increasing
structure and diversity may have functional benefits to other
degraded coastlines such as those without existing stands of forest
(thus improving the overall resilience of vulnerable coastlines) and as
a form of coastline fortification and carbon sequestration in a climate
change future. Overall, we advocate revegetation as a key strategy to
augment natural recovery, increase biodiversity and restore ecosystems
services to degraded coasts and estuaries.