“Mangroves” Sentinel of the Ecosystem

 

“Mangroves” Sentinel of the Ecosystem

Important for Prelims Exam:

Mangrove Forest Ecosystem, Mishti Scheme, CAMPA Fund, Sundarbans, Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, National Forest Policy, 1988

Important for Mains Exam:

Importance of Mangrove Forest in India, Mangrove Forest Coverage in India, Conservation of Mangrove Forest in India

October 31, 2023

Context:

Mangrove forests in India represent a coastal forest ecosystem, consisting generally of evergreen forests that grow in low-lying areas of tropical and subtropical regions. They grow below the high water level of spring tides and are highly productive. Keeping this in mind, the Government of India is promoting the conservation and development of mangrove forests.

Mangrove Forest:

  • Mangrove forests grow at the mouths of rivers that flow into the sea. Mangrove trees thrive in hot, muddy, salty conditions. Mangrove forests can survive in high salt and low oxygen.
  • They act as a buffer zone between the sea and the earth.
  • Mangroves, like desert plants, store fresh water in thick leaves.
  • These are helpful in protecting from sea storms, tsunami and other disasters.
  • Rhizophora muconata and Abyssina officinalis are two major species of mangroves.
  • The height of mangroves in India ranges from 8 to 20 meters. They protect the coastline from the adverse effects of cyclones and tsunamis.
  • These types of forests require high solar radiation which helps filter salt water through their roots.
  • Mangroves exhibit a viviparous method of reproduction, which means that the seeds germinate in the tree itself before falling to the ground. This is an important adaptive mechanism to overcome the problem of germination in salt water.

Types of Mangroves in India

  • Red mangroves: They grow along the coastline and are the hardiest of the three major mangrove plant types.
  • Black mangroves: These grow at higher altitudes than red mangroves. Due to their roots being more open, they receive more oxygen.
  • White mangroves: These grow at higher altitudes than red and black mangroves.

Mangrove Forest Coverage in India:

  • The total mangrove area in India is about 4992 square km, which is about 3% of the world's mangrove area. There are 14.79 million hectares of mangrove forests all over the world.

West Bengal:

  • The Sundarbans mangrove forest is the largest single-block tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world.

Sundarban:

  • Sundarbans is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
  • Sundarban gets its name from Sundari (Heritiera minor) plants.
  • Sunderbans is famous for the Royal Bengal Tiger and crocodiles.

Odisha:

  • The mangrove forest of Bhitarkanika, located in Orissa, is the second largest in the Indian subcontinent and has a high concentration of distinctive mangrove species.

Andhra Pradesh:

  • Mangrove swamps are found in intertidal mudflats on both sides of the Godavari-Krishna delta regions of Andhra Pradesh.
  • The mangrove forests of Pichavaram and Vedaranyam are now destroyed mainly due to the construction of aquaculture ponds and salt pans.

Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka

  • On the west coast of India, mangrove forests have been destroyed.
  • Mangrove forests in Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka are found in the intertidal zone of estuaries and creeks.

Kerala:

  • Mangrove forests are less common in the coastal region of Kerala.

Gujarat:

  • In Gujarat, mangroves are found mainly in the Gulf of Kutch and Kori Creek.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

  • In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, there are diverse mangrove forests in small tidal estuaries and lagoons.

Significance of Mangrove Forest in India:

  • Mangrove forests in India create unique environments that provide ecological niches for a wide variety of organisms.
  • Mangrove forests in India have specialized roots like prop roots and pneumatophores, which help in disrupting water flow and thus increasing sediment deposition in the areas. They stabilize coastal banks and provide breeding grounds for fish.
  • Mangrove forests control monsoon floods and reduce flooding in coastal low-lying areas.
  • Mangrove forests in India protect coastal areas from tsunamis, storms and floods.
  • Mangrove forests enhance the natural recycling of nutrients.
  • Mangrove forests provide firewood, medicinal plants and food plants to the local people.
  • Mangrove forests provide various employment opportunities to local communities and enhance their livelihood.
  • Mangrove forests store more carbon dioxide than most other forests.

Threat to mangrove forests in India:

  • Mangrove forests in India are facing serious threats due to urbanization, industrialization, domestic sewage discharge, industrial effluents and pesticides.
  • According to research by the Indian Institute of Science, "about 40% of the mangrove area in India has been lost due to agriculture, aquaculture, tourism, urban development and over-exploitation".

Conservation of Mangrove Forest in India:

  • The Government of India has made the following efforts to conserve mangrove forests:

Mishti Scheme:

  • During the Union Budget 2023, the new MISHTI scheme was launched by the Government of India.
  • Under MISHTI it is proposed to cover an area of 540 sq km in 9 states and 4 union territories.
  • This scheme will be implemented with the help of CAMPA Fund, MNREGA.
  • CAMPA Fund stands for Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority.

Agreement with Reliance Industries:

  • Agreement with Reliance Industries for creation of 3500 acres of mangrove forest in Jamnagar.

Constitutional Efforts:

  • Article 48A and Article 51A were added to the Indian Constitution in 1976 for environment and forest protection.

National Mangrove Committee:

  • National Mangrove Committee has been constituted in 1976 to advise on mangrove conservation and development.

National Forest Policy, 1988

  • Under the National Forest Policy, 1988, mangrove forests have been listed as natural forest ecosystems for conservation and management.

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

  • The Indian Forest Act of 1927 and the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 protect the flora and fauna. However, they do not specifically refer to mangroves, but may also apply to the conservation of mangrove forest flora and fauna in India.

Conservation under Ramsar Convention:

  • Many mangrove sites in India are protected under the Ramsar Convention.

Conclusion:

  • Mangrove forests are not only stunning to look at, but also serve as important habitats for a wide variety of plant and animal species and provide invaluable ecological services. To maintain ecological balance in the future, there is a need to continue efforts to conserve mangroves.

-------------------------------------

Mains Exam Question

Mangrove forests are the sentinels of the ecosystem. Discuss.