Mangrove forests provide several ecological services. They are highly productive systems and create huge amounts of oxygen while cutting down on carbon dioxide - a major green house gas. This alone is key to sustaining life as we know it. Mangroves can only grow in areas with existing sedimentation and are not credited with land-building. However, a mangrove community will stabilize the sediment and prevent shifting of the coastline. They are indespensible buffers agains erosion due to both river and wave action. This is especially importand to ward off the large waves and high winds during  storms, hurricanes and typhoons. The Sungei Buloh mangrove acts as a nutrient and water trap.

Wildlife habitat is possibly the most important function that this wetland reserve serves. Well over 100 bird species depend on the site for survival; it is home to over 70 species and over 180 species spend part of the year there. It is a key stopping point and wintering area for many migratory birds. The mangroves also support marine communities through a detritus food chain based on fallen mangrove leaves. Local fisheries depend on the Sungei Buloh wetland; it provides habitat for many commercially important animals, like prawns, crabs and fish. The mangrove is important to most fish at one phases or another of their life cycle. The mangroves act as nurseries for many species by providing good feeding grounds and hiding areas for juveniles. Several studies have shown that when mangroves are lost fish catches drop significantly.