The uses of mangroves falls into two categories, firstly the use of the mangrove ecosystem as a whole or its conversion to other uses, and secondly, the use of products from the mangrove ecosystem.

Ecologically mangroves are important in maintaining and building the soil, as a reservoir in the tertiary assimilation of waste, and in the global cycle of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and sulfur. The protection against: cyclones is a "free" benefit. Yet hidden benefits from mangroves, specially in marginal areas, may even be more important than the obvious ones. They play a significant role in coastal stabilization and promoting land accretion, fixation of mud banks, dissipation of winds, tidal and wave energy.

Transplanting saltmarsh vegetation is an alternative erosion control method which is relatively inexpensive and proven to be effective on some shorelines. The aerial plant parts dissipate waves, act as a living groyne by accumulating sediment and the tough mat of roots and rhizomes stabilizes the substrate (Broom et al., 1981). They trap sediments and thus contribute to land building and prevent excessive shifting of coastline sand. A relatively recent commercial use of recreation and ecotourism.

The uses of mangroves are many and varied. A fundamental function of all forests has been to supply timber for cooking, heating and constructing dwellings, and mangrove forests are no exception (Watson, 1929; FAO, 1982). Traditionally, people have used mangroves for the benefit of the local community, but increasing populations have led to an increasing non-sustainable abuse of the resources.

In Malaysia, where mangroves occur in profusion, an important cottage industry is the manufacture of shingles for roof thatching from the fronds of Nypa fruticans. Basketry, corks and floats are obtained from the pneumatophores. Rhizophora apiculata has been exported from the Philippines to various parts of the world for utilization in the textile industry and extracts of stilt roots exhibited mosquito larvicidal activity. In Sri Lanka, Cerebera manghas is used in making masks for many traditional cultural activities. Pulp for paper, matchsticks, household utensils, agricultural implements and toys are some other products produced from mangroves. In Japan, propagules of Rhizophora and Bruguiera are planted in pots and make good decorations when germinated.

The tender leaves of Acrostichum, the hypocotyls of Bruguiera, are the staple food of some Papua New Guineans. Leaves of Osbornia octodonata are flavouring agents. Fibres, mats, paper and tapa cloth are products of Hibiscus tiliaceus, Thespesia populnea and Pandanus spp.

A local industry in the Sundarbans of Bangladesh and India is the production of honey and, in Bangladesh, a large number of people including wood and thatch cutters, honey and wax collectors and fishermen are directly dependent on the mangroves. Fruits of Avicennia marina are universally used as vegetables. The fruits of Kandelia candel and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza contain starch and if sliced, soaked in water to rinse out tannins and then ground to a paste can make excellent cakes or sweetened stuffing for pastry.

Among the coastal lagoons along the west coast of Africa, the villagers produce salt by using a technique of boiling brackish water placed in a clay bowl over a fire made from Avicennia. On the west coast of Sri Lanka twigs and branches, mainly of Rhizophora mucronata, R. apiculata and Lumnitzera racemosa, are used to form "brush piles" or "brush parks" in a specially devised fishing method. The gathering of mangrove leaves (e.g. Suaeda and Porteresia) for animal fodder remains widespread in the Near East and South Asia, and for feeding camels in Iran and India.

To a limited degree, the indigenous people of Australia and Sri Lanka use extracts from mangrove plants as valuable sources of dyes.

The importance of bark tannins has declined in many Asian countries, but mangrove tannin is still used in India and Bangladesh for leather curing and in Sri Lanka tannin is used traditionally in curing fishnets. The tannins comprise two groups of phenolic constituents, hydrolysable and condensed, which are important economically as agents for the synthesis of certain medicines.

Their potential value as cytotoxic and/or antineoplastic agents and as antimicrobial agents has been demonstrated.

Use of mangroves as natural sewage-treatment plants has been considered. Mangroves trap sediments and so contribute to land building, preventing erosion and excessive shifting of coastlines.

A relatively recent commercial use of mangroves is for recreation and ecotourism. In Australia, mangrove habitats play a significant role in programs of conservation, recreation and researching methods of establishing nature reserves, sanctuaries, national parks and biosphere reserves.

A non-governmental organization, the International Society for Mangrove Ecosystem (ISME), which was established in 1990, aims to promote the study of mangroves with the purpose of enhancing their conservation, rational management and sustainable utilization.