Mangroves
Why it Matters?
Selvam Vaithilingam, a pioneer in mangrove research and former Executive Director of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, played a key role in mainstreaming mangroves as a critical component of climate adaptation and coastal resilience in India.
What You Should Know?
Mangroves are salt-tolerant, halophytic trees and shrubs found in tropical and subtropical intertidal zones where freshwater and seawater meet.
Vivipary, a unique trait of mangroves, is the germination of seeds while still attached to the parent tree, enabling survival in saline, waterlogged conditions.
Mangroves possess aerial roots (pneumatophores) for gaseous exchange and waxy leaves to prevent water loss in saline environments.
They thrive in high rainfall (1000–3000 mm) and warm temperatures (26–35°C).
Common species include Avicennia marina, Rhizophora, and Red mangrove.
Mangroves form littoral forests found in saline or brackish waters.
Distribution in India:
West Bengal has the highest mangrove cover in India.
Gujarat is second with major regions like the Gulf of Kutch and the Gulf of Khambhat.
Kutch district has Gujarat’s largest mangrove area.
Other states with mangroves: Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Sundarbans (India-Bangladesh) is the world’s largest mangrove forest.
Bhitarkanika (Odisha) is the second-largest mangrove forest in India.
Initiatives:
India’s flagship scheme, MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes), was launched in 2023 for mangrove plantation and conservation.
Global initiatives include the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC), launched at COP27, promoting restoration and conservation efforts.
Mangroves for the Future (MFF) is an IUCN-UNDP initiative to invest in coastal ecosystem conservation post-2004 tsunami.