Mangroves in India

• 17 Mar 2025

For Prelims: Mangroves, Indian State Forest Report 2023, Sundarbans, MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes), Sustainable Aquaculture In Mangrove Ecosystem (SAIME) initiative. 

For Mains: Significance of Mangroves, Challenges Related to Mangroves in India 

Source: TH 

Why in News?

A recent report by Anna University highlights Tamil Nadu's significant mangrove expansion, doubling from 4,500 hectares in 2021 to 9,039 hectares in 2024, bringing mangroves into the discussion. 

What are Mangroves?   

• About:  
  • Mangroves are coastal ecosystems composed of salt-tolerant trees and shrubs that thrive in intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical regions.  
  • They are uniquely adapted to survive in saline, low-oxygen environments with slow-moving waters, where fine sediments tend to accumulate. 
  • Some common mangrove trees include Red mangrove, Grey mangrove, and Rhizophora.   

• Key Characteristics: 
  • Habitat & Growth Conditions: Mangroves thrive in tidal flats, estuaries, and deltas with high silt deposition, experiencing bi-daily tidal flooding.  
    • They adapt to high solar radiation, anaerobic mud, and can extract freshwater from saline water. 
  • Physiological Adaptations: They develop pneumatophores (Avicennia) for respiration, prop roots (Rhizophora) for stability, and lenticellated bark for water loss and salt secretion.  
    • Their salt-secreting glands aid salt excretion, while roots trap sediments and stabilize coastlines. 
  • Reproductive Adaptations: Mangroves exhibit viviparity, where seeds germinate on the tree before falling, ensuring survival in saline conditions. 
• Mangroves Distribution: Mangrove thrive only in tropical and subtropical latitudes near the equator, as they cannot withstand freezing temperatures. 
  • As per FAO (2023), the global mangrove extent in 2020 was 14.8 million hectares, covering less than 1% of all tropical forests globally. 
  • Largest mangrove areas are in South and Southeast Asia, followed by South America, Africa, North and Central America, and Oceania. 
    • Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria, Mexico, and Australia hold 47% of the global mangrove cover. 

• Mangroves Cover in India: As per the Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, India's mangrove cover is around 4,992 sq. km, constituting 0.15% of the country's total geographical area. 
  • Major mangrove ecosystems are found in Odisha (Bhitarkanika), Andhra Pradesh (Godavari-Krishna delta), Gujarat, Kerala, and the Andaman Islands. 
  • The Sundarbans is the largest contiguous mangrove forest in the world, while Bhitarkanika is the second largest in India. 

Sundarbans 

• The Sundarbans is named after the sundari tree (Heritiera fomes). 
• It extends from the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India, to the Baleswar River in Bangladesh, covering the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna delta. 
• Four protected areas-Sundarbans National Park (India), Sundarbans West, Sundarbans South, and Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuaries (Bangladesh) are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 
• The region hosts rich biodiversity, including 260 bird species, the Bengal tiger, estuarine crocodile, and Indian python, among other threatened species. 

 

What is the Significance of Mangroves? 

• Carbon Sequestration: Mangroves store an average of 394 tonnes of carbon per hectare. Their unique anaerobic and saline conditions slow decomposition, making them highly effective blue carbon sinks.. 
• Coastal Protection: Mangroves act as natural barriers against storm surges, tsunamis, and coastal erosion, reducing wave energy by 5-35%.  
  • They lower flood depths by 15-20% and up to 70% in certain areas, playing a crucial role in disaster risk reduction. 
• Biodiversity Hotspots: They support 5,700+ species across 21 phyla in India, including Bengal tigers, estuarine crocodiles, Indian pythons, and 260+ bird species. 
• Food Security and Livelihoods: Mangroves support global fisheries by nurturing 800 billion aquatic species annually and provide honey, fruits, and leaves, sustaining coastal communities. 

 

What are the Major Threats to Mangroves? 

• Land Conversion: According to the "State of the World's Mangroves 2024" report, aquaculture (26%), along with oil palm plantations and rice cultivation (43%), has been a major driver of mangrove loss between 2000 and 2020. 
  • Timber extraction and charcoal production lead to severe mangrove degradation. 
• Pollution: Oil spills, particularly in areas like the Niger Delta, threaten mangrove regeneration and ecosystem health. 
• Invasive Species: The spread of Prosopis juliflora, an aggressive invasive species found in the mangroves of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, disrupts mangrove ecosystems by outcompeting native species, altering soil salinity, reducing freshwater availability, and hindering regeneration.

Read More: What are India’s Initiatives Related to Mangroves Conservation? 

Way Forward 

• Strengthening Legal Framework: Enforce stricter laws and regulatory measures to curb deforestation, pollution, and unsustainable coastal development. 
• Community Participation:  Engage local communities in conservation initiatives and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities linked to mangrove protection such as "adopt" mangrove areas, ensuring their maintenance, protection, and restoration. 
• Research & Technology Adoption: Invest in research for phytoremediation, medicinal applications, and sustainable mangrove uses.  
  • Utilize drone monitoring and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for real-time surveillance and protection against illegal activities. 
• Bio-Restoration: Implement bio-restoration techniques to rehabilitate degraded mangrove areas, ensuring species diversity to enhance resilience against climate change. 
• Sustainable Coastal Development:  Promote eco-friendly infrastructure, regulate aquaculture, and integrate mangrove conservation into urban planning. 
• International Collaboration: Strengthen global cooperation through agreements like the Ramsar Convention and the Blue Carbon Initiative for effective mangrove conservation strategies. 

Drishti Mains Question: 

Examine the ecological and economic importance of mangroves in India. Suggest a holistic strategy for their conservation and sustainable management. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ) 

Prelims

Q. Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest? (2015)

(a) North Coastal Andhra Pradesh 
(b) South-West Bengal 
(c) Southern Saurashtra 
(d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands 

Ans: (d)

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Mains 

Q. Discuss the causes of depletion of mangroves and explain their importance in maintaining coastal ecology. (2019)