Intro:
• Mangroves are salt-tolerant forest ecosystems found in intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical coasts.
• India has ~4,975 sq km of mangroves (FSI 2021).
Causes of Depletion:
• Urbanization & Industrial Expansion – e.g., Navi Mumbai SEZ, Chennai port projects.
• Aquaculture & Agriculture – shrimp farming in Andhra Pradesh, rice cultivation in Sundarbans.
• Pollution & Waste Dumping – industrial effluents in estuarine zones.
• Climate Change – sea level rise, cyclones, salinity shifts affecting regeneration.
• Infrastructure Projects – highways, ports, tourism encroaching coastal zones.
Importance in Coastal Ecology:
• Biodiversity Hotspot – nursery ground for fish, crabs, mollusks.
• Coastal Protection – buffer against cyclones, storm surges (e.g., Odisha mangroves in 1999 super cyclone).
• Carbon Sequestration – high carbon sink capacity.
• Erosion Control & Sediment Traps – stabilizes coastline.
Conclusion:
• Conservation of mangroves is crucial for climate resilience and sustainable coastal development.
