Mangroves have long been feared due to their unpredictable appearance of insects, sinking into mud, and feelings of alienation from nature. However, mangroves should be a source of pride as the Central Indo-Pacific region contains 40% of the world's mangroves and mangroves provide at least $1.6 billion annually in ecosystem services. The document discusses the history of perceptions of mangrove swamps and aims to showcase the importance and biodiversity of mangrove ecosystems.