It has been recognised as being of international importance by designation under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Hosnies Spring was known earlier but the unique ecosystem was noted in late 1980s.
[2] In 2010 a proposal was made to increase the area of the Ramsar site to 202 ha.
Justification for its Ramsar designation is because it:[3] Although some restricted phosphate mining occurs nearby, human activity has had little impact on the site.
[4] The stand contains between 300 and 600 trees, including some of the largest Bruguiera ever recorded, several with trunks of more than 80 cm diameter and with a canopy 30–40 m high.