**[🎥 VIDEO SCRIPT: "Mangroves – Nature's Billion-Dollar Storm Shields"]**

**[🎥 VIDEO SCRIPT: "Mangroves – Nature's Billion-Dollar Storm Shields"]** *(Scene opens with Avatar 1 and Avatar 2 standing in front of an animated coastal landscape. Gentle waves crash in background.)* **AVATAR 1 (excitedly):** "Dude, check this out! Scientists just proved these funky-looking trees called mangroves saved Florida $1.5 BILLION during Hurricane Irma!" **AVATAR 2 (skeptical):** "Wait what? How can trees stop hurricane damage?" *(Graphic pops up showing hurricane hitting mangrove forest vs. city without mangroves)* **AVATAR 1:** "Okay science time! Mangroves grow in coastal areas with these crazy tangled roots. When storms hit: - They absorb wave energy like nature's speed bumps - Reduce flood damage by 25% in protected areas - Saved over 500,000 people during Irma!" **AVATAR 2 (impressed):** "Whoa! That's actually insane. So they're like free natural seawalls?" **AVATAR 1 (nodding):** "Exactly! And get this – in Collier County, losing mangroves would mean 25% MORE flood damage every year. These trees are basically climate change superheroes!" *(Cut to animated $$$ graphics showing $802M saved in Lee County, $580M in Collier County)* **AVATAR 2 (concerned):** "If they're so important, why aren't we protecting them more?" **AVATAR 1 (serious tone):** "Here's the scary part – we've already lost over half of Florida's mangroves to development. And when people build RIGHT in front of them? It actually makes flooding WORSE for those properties." *(Cut to "DON'T BUILD HERE" warning graphic over mangrove map)* **AVATAR 2:** "So what can we do about it?" **AVATAR 1 (energetic):** "Lots! We can: ✓ Support groups like @NatureConservancy ✓ Share this info (#SaveTheMangroves) ✓ Push for smarter coastal planning" *(Cut to expert quote graphics)* **AVATAR 2 (reading quote):** "Dr. Narayan says: 'We can now measure mangroves' value like engineered infrastructure.' That's pretty legit." **AVATAR 1:** "Totally! This isn't just tree-hugging – it's smart economics. Restoring mangroves costs LESS than rebuilding after storms." *(Final scene: both avatars at beach)* **AVATAR 2:** "So basically... protect the mangroves, protect our future?" **AVATAR 1:** "Bingo! Nature's been giving us free flood protection – time we return the favor!" **BOTH (to camera):** "Stay curious, stay green! 🌿" "Tag someone who needs to know this!" + infographic link in bio]**