Immediately recognizable by their tangled root systems that jut out of the muddy shores of rivers and estuaries across South Florida, mangroves play an vital ecological role.

Mangroves provide a habitat for thousands of vertebrate and invertebrate marine species and other wildlife, and they often bear the brunt of tropical storms and hurricanes. Although most mangroves grow out of the mud, they can also thrive in sand, peat, and coral rock, and they tolerate a level of salinity one hundred times greater than most other plants. In fact, mangroves are the only trees that can live in brackish water and they can withstand the daily ebb and flow of coastal tides that would drown most trees, even if the water itself were fresh. But these stately trees are by no means indestructible and, as such, they require expert care.

There are over half a million acres of mangroves in Florida and over 80% are under some form of government or private ownership or control and are expressly set aside for preservation or conservation purposes. This means that mangrove pruning, or removal must be conducted by a Professional Mangrove Trimmer (PMT) in compliance with the Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act. Additionally,