Mangroves

Published on 04 Apr 2025

Mangroves are unique coastal ecosystems mostly found in tropical and subtropical regions. Mangroves which are referred to as Tidal Forest consist of salt tolerant trees, shrubs and other vegetation that grow in intertidal zones.

Importance of mangroves

• Highly productive terrestrial ecosystems: This region consists of diverse natural and renewable resources.

• Example: Sundarbans mangrove forest in West Bengal

• Prevents saltwater intrusion: The vegetation acts as a barrier to saltwater from the sea to enter the coastal freshwater ecosystem.

• Example: 

• Coastal protection: Mangroves are natural buffers against storm surges and coastal erosion.

• Example: Pichavaram mangrove forest protected a coastal hamlet in Tamil Nadu coast during the 2004 tsunami.

• Carbon sequestration: Mangroves sink large amounts of carbon dioxide in their biomass and sediment.

• Helps in water filtration: Mangroves play a major role in filtering pollutants by trapping sediments within the roots, thus improving the water quality.

• Fishing industry: Mangroves are the nurseries for fish which support the livelihoods of local communities.

• Example: Shrimp farming in Sundarbans

Threats to Mangroves and Associated Consequences

• Dredging: Dredging activities for ports and navigation routes negatively affect the mangrove ecosystem.

• Agricultural conversion and salt pans: Conversion of mangrove ecosystem into agricultural land and salt pans results in fragmentation and habitat loss.

• Over-exploitation of resources: Over-exploitation of resources by people destroys the ecosystem. For example, Shrimp farming in Bangladesh.

• Climate change: Increasing temperatures, low rainfall and sea level rise have negative impacts on mangroves.

• Damming of rivers: Building dams on the rivers reduces the amount of water and sediments reaching mangrove forests.

National and International initiatives

• MISHTI, or "Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes,": A new initiative for mangrove plantations along the coastline and on saltpan lands.

• Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystem (SAIME) initiative: Community-based initiative of sustainable shrimp cultivation for mangrove restoration.

• International Society for Mangrove Ecosystem (ISME): It promotes the study of mangroves to enhance their conservation, rational management and sustainable utilization.

• Global Mangrove Alliance: To double mangrove coverage by 2030.

• Case study: Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project- a women-led project that helped in mangrove cultivation and preventing coastal flooding and erosion.

Tags:
Environment

Keywords:
Mangroves Ecosystem Biodiversity Conservation

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 3

Topics:
Environment and Climate Change