Part 11/15:
Interestingly, the island's ecosystems created a mosaic of waterlogged marsh zones and dry land, separated by minimal distance but vastly different in soil quality and vegetation. The Casuarina forests exist predominantly on the dry, reclaimed lands, while the surrounding marshes remain mangrove habitats with their characteristic roots and low-oxygen soils.
Why Did Reclamation Fail to Remove the Forest?
While land reclamation succeeded in expanding Coney Island, the original plans to develop it into a recreational resort were abandoned. The dense Casuarina forests, environmental considerations, and the island’s ecological richness made it unsuitable for urban development or large-scale tourism.