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In News :
The Odisha government has proposed to raise mangrove and casuarinas plantation in the coastal belt.
- The state has around 480-kilometres-long coastal belt.
Need
- Odisha is one the most cyclone-prone states in the country and it also is vulnerable to various natural disasters like flood, hailstorm, drought due to its unique geo-climatic condition.
- The mangroves have acted as a bio-shield against the strong winds in all the cyclones that struck the state.
- Previously, the mangroves served as a natural barrier to cyclonic winds in Bhitarkanika National Park during Cyclone Yaas.
- As many as 96 cyclones have hit Odisha coast in the last 130 years.
- Therefore, it is important to build a coastal shelter belt to protect the coastal areas.
- The Odisha coastal area is a wildlife hotspot as well as an economic zone.
Mangroves
- A mangrove is a small tree or shrub that grows along coastlines, taking root in salty sediments, often underwater.
- The word ‘mangrove’ may refer to the habitat as a whole or the trees and shrubs in the mangrove swamp.
- Mangroves are flowering trees, belonging to the families Rhizophoraceae, Acanthaceae, Lythraceae, Combretaceae, and Arecaceae.
- The upper trunk, including the branches and leaves, of a mangrove tree, lives completely above the waterline, while the lower trunk and the large root system are partly covered by seawater.
- Many species have roots diverging from stems and branches and penetrating the soil some distance away from the main stem (like banyan trees).
- Features:
- Saline Environment: A speciality of mangroves is that they can survive under extreme hostile environments such as high salt and low oxygen conditions.
- Mangrove trees contain a complex salt filtration system and complex root system to cope with saltwater immersion and wave action.
- The roots filter out 90% of the salt they come into contact with within the saline and brackish water they call home. Some species of mangrove excrete salt through glands in their leaves.
- Low oxygen: Underground tissue of any plant needs oxygen for respiration. But in a mangrove environment, the oxygen in soil is limited or nil.
- Hence the mangrove root system absorbs oxygen from the atmosphere.
- Mangroves have special roots for this purpose called breathing roots or pneumatophores.
- These roots have numerous pores through which oxygen enters the underground tissues.
- Store Freshwater: Mangroves, like desert plants, store fresh water in thick succulent leaves. A waxy coating on the leaves seals in the water and minimises evaporation.
- Mangroves are viviparous: Their seeds germinate while still attached to the parent tree. Once germinated, the seedling grows into a propagule.
- The mature propagule then drops into the water and gets transported to a different spot, eventually taking root in a solid ground.
- Saline Environment: A speciality of mangroves is that they can survive under extreme hostile environments such as high salt and low oxygen conditions.
Distribution of Mangroves
- Mangroves can be found in over 118 countries and territories in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world.
- Asia has the largest coverage of the world’s mangroves, followed by Africa, North and Central America, Oceania and South America. Approximately 75% of the world’s mangrove forests are found in just 15 countries.
- In India:
- The deltas of the Ganges, Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, and the Cauvery rivers contain mangrove forests.
- The backwaters in Kerala have a high density of mangrove forest.
- The Sundarbans in West Bengal is the largest mangrove region in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It spans from the Hooghly River in West Bengal to the Baleswar River in Bangladesh.
- The Bhitarkanika mangrove system in Odisha is India’s second-largest mangrove forest.
- Pichavaram in Tamil Nadu has a vast expanse of water covered with mangrove forests. It is home to many aquatic bird species.
Importance of Mangroves
- Mangrove forests act as natural barriers against storm surge, coastal flooding and sea-level rise.
- Their intricate root system stabilises the coastline, reducing erosion from storm surges. Together with the tree trunks, they work like speed-breakers to slow down the tides.
- Mangrove thickets maintain water quality by filtering pollutants and trapping sediments originating from land.
- They provide habitat for a diverse array of terrestrial organisms.
- Their branches provide homes for lizards, snakes and nesting birds. Many species of coastal and offshore fish and shellfish rely exclusively on mangroves as their breeding, spawning, and hatching grounds.
- Mangroves also have a big impact on climate. Mangroves are powerhouses when it comes to carbon storage.
- Studies indicate that mangroves can sequester (lock away) greater amounts of carbon than other trees in the peat soil beneath. They store this carbon for thousands of years.
- Many people living in and around mangroves depend on them for their livelihood.
- The trees are a source of wood for construction and fuel. The ecosystem provides local fishermen with a rich supply of fish, crabs and shellfish. The ecosystem also supports tourism.
Image Courtesy: UNEP
Major Threats
- Scientists estimate that at least one-third of all mangrove forests have been lost during the last few decades.
- Coastal development, including the construction of shrimp farms, hotels, and other structures, is the primary threat to mangroves.
- Mangrove forests are cleared to make room for agricultural land and human settlements.
- Mangrove trees are used for firewood, construction wood, charcoal production, and animal fodder. In some parts of the world, there has been overharvesting which is no longer sustainable.
- Overfishing, pollution, and rising sea levels are the other threats to mangrove forests and their ecosystem.
Conclusion
- The mangroves have a crucial role in sustaining and preserving the coastal ecosystem. The threats posed by human activities can disrupt the natural balance and cause their depletion.
- Hence, efforts need to be taken to compensate for the plants that are damaged due to various natural and anthropogenic activities with proper plantation drives.
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