In pictures: Mangroves under threat

As crabs scurry around on the man-made shores of the mangrove islands, construction nearby continues on Thursday early morning, July 21, 2011, in the Eastern Mangroves near the East Road. Mangroves, natural saline habitants, are affected by erosion caused by development of the surrounding islands, widening the natural channels and thus increasing the water flow, which in return washes away the sediment much faster.(Silvia Razgova/The National)

Crabs scurry around a plastic bottle floating in the water in the Eastern Mangroves near the East Road. Mangroves, natural saline habitants, are affected by erosion caused by development of the surrounding islands, widening the natural channels and thus i???

Mangrove roots reach out of the dense sediment to supply the trees with air. (Silvia Razgova/The National)

A dead mangrove tree sticks out of the water in the Eastern Mangroves near the East Road. Mangroves, natural saline habitants, are affected by erosion caused by development of the surrounding islands, widening the natural channels and thus increasing the ???

A well-visible sign post warns kayakers not to enter the area designated for "Arresting and Rehabilitation of Eastern Mangrove Erosion" in the Eastern Mangroves. (Silvia Razgova/The National)

A mixture of natural sediment and industrial pollutants speckles the water with lined patterns in the Eastern Mangroves near the East Road. (Silvia Razgova/The National)

A fence and a sign post warns kayakers not to enter the area designated for "Arresting and Rehabilitation of Eastern Mangrove Erosion" in the Eastern Mangroves near the East Road. (Silvia Razgova/The National)

A developer company's motor boat passes by kayakers in the Eastern Mangroves near the East Road. (Silvia Razgova/The National)

Marine life attaches itself to a mangrove branch just above the water in the Eastern Mangroves near the East Road. (Silvia Razgova/The National)

Marine life attaches to a mangrove branch which hangs just above the water as seen on Thursday early morning, July 21, 2011, in the Eastern Mangroves near the East Road. Mangroves, natural saline habitants, are affected by erosion caused by development of the surrounding islands, widening the natural channels and thus increasing the water flow, which in return washes away the sediment much faster. (Silvia Razgova/The National)

Saltwater crystals are exposed on mangrove trees Thursday early morning, July 21, 2011, on a mangrove island at the mangroves near the East Road in Abu Dhabi. Mangroves, natural saline habitants, are affected by erosion caused by development of the surrounding islands, widening the natural channels and thus increasing the water flow, which in return washes away the sediment much faster.(Silvia Razgova/The National)

Empty plastic bottles lay as memento of trespassers at the mangroves near the East Road. (Silvia Razgova/The National)

As construction nearby continues by widening the natural channels of the mangrove islands, the mangrove shores sit sharply exposed. (Silvia Razgova/The National)

Kayakers navigate the cool early-morning waters on Thursday, July 21, 2011, between mangrove islands at the mangroves near the East Road in Abu Dhabi. Mangroves, natural saline habitants, are affected by erosion caused by development of the surrounding islands, widening the natural channels and thus increasing the water flow, which in return washes away the sediment much faster. (Silvia Razgova/The National)

An illegal waste deposit lays on the shores near the mangrove islands. ((Silvia Razgova/The National)

Crabs scurry around trash in the water on the shores of the mangrove islands at the mangroves near the East Road in Abu Dhabi. (Silvia Razgova/The National)

An empty truck sits with its engine idling near the shores of the mangrove islands at the mangroves near the East Road in Abu Dhabi. Mangroves, natural saline habitants, are affected by erosion caused by development of the surrounding islands. (Silvia Raz???