An overview of mangroves in India with emphasis on ecosystem and biodiversity

1. Something which man needs to grow…
Srinivas . K
2011- RU - 37

13.  110 mangrove species recognized
 54 species
 20 genera
 16 families
constitute the “true mangroves”

14.  Avicennia
 Conocarpus
 Languncularia
 Lumnitzera
 Nypa
 Bruguiera
 Ceriops
 Kandelia
 Rhizophora
 Sonneratia

15.  Bravaisia
 Camptostemon
 Fimbristylis
 Excoecaria
 Barringtonia
 Pemphis
 Xylocarpus
 Aegiceras
 Osbornia
 Pelliciera
 Aegialitis
 Acrostichium
 Scyphiphora
 Heritiera
Fact about Thillai (Excoecaria agallocha): It is believed that
the present Nataraja temple at Chidambaram, stands on the
place that used to be occupied with Thillai, so the God is
popularly known as Thillai Natarajar.

17. DISTRIBUTION IN INDIA
Mangroves in India are
distributed in the regions
of
1. Orissa
2. West Bengal
3. Andhra Pradesh
4. Tamil Nadu
5. Goa (West coast)
6. Gujarat
7. Andaman and Nicobar

18. Source :
MoEF
Report

19.  Mangrove forests
are found mainly in
3 regions of Tamil
Nadu viz.
Pichavaram,
Muthupet and Gulf
of Mannar

20.  Pichavaram – famous for ferries into the
mangrove forests and also a shooting spot.

22. 1. Thengaithittu
2. Murungapakkam
3. Ashramathittu
4. Ariyankuppam
5. Veerampattinam

23.  Seven true mangrove floral species belonging to
3 family were identified around the study area
 Around 16 mangrove associated species
belonging to 12 families were also identified

24. 1. Avicennia marina – most dominating species.
 Local name: Venkandal/ Kandal/ Alayathi
 Usually dominant in any mangals.

25. 2. Bruguiera cylindrica – Next dominating species
 Local name – Pannukuchi
 Seen in the Rhizophora zone and in the places of
sufficient freshwater inflow
3. Bruguiera gymnorrhiza

26. 4. Acanthus erbacteatus 5. Acanthus ilcifolius
(Neermulli/
Athumulli)
6. Rhizophora apiculata (Surapunnai) 7. Rhizpophora
mucronata

27.  Thespesia populnea (Portia tree)
Aleuropus
lagopoides

28.  Clerodendron inerme (Peenchal/Peekalathi)

29.  Sesuvium portulacastrum (Vangaravaasi)

30.  Suaeda maritima (Umiri)

31. Fauna associated
 Various fauna includes fishes, molluscs,
crustaceans, aves, etc.

33. Uca lactea annulepis & Sesarma
brockii

34. White breasted water hen
Asian open billed stork
Common kingfisher
Grey heron
Pond heron
Cattle egret
Brahminy kite
Night heron
Black winged stilt
Lesser cormorant
Crested grebe
Red wattled lapwing
Marsh sandpiper
Common sandpiper

36. Anadara rhombea
Crassostrea madrasen
Perna viridis
Meretrix casta

37. Cassidula
nucleus
Cerrithidea cingulata
Neritina
violacea
Telescopium
telescopium

38. FISHES

39. Many fishes of commercial importance – provide livelihood to local
people

40. PRAWNS

41. .
Essential source of nutrients for the trophic food web and coastal

42. Ecological values of Mangroves
 Mangroves and corals are termed as land builders.
 Enhances sediment deposition
 They host algae, barnacles, oysters, sponges and
bryozoans, which all require a hard surface for
anchoring while they filter the feed.
 Export of carbon fixed in mangroves is important in
coastal food webs.

44.  Act as barrier against Tsunami and cyclones,
mitigating their effects.
 In December 4, 2002, 300 farmers planted
80,244 Casuarina saplings in 24 hours, achieving
a new Guinness World Record in the process
forming what has been called “The Guinness
Garden” protected the village against Tsunami
2004.

45. Provide an oyster habitat and slow water flow

46.  Shrimps and mud lobsters use the muddy
bottoms as their home.

47. FISH NURSERY
Mangroves do
act as fish and
prawn
nurseries
Mangrove roots
offers a quiet
marine region
for young
organisms.

48.  Mangrove crabs mulch the mangrove leaves,
adding nutrients to the mangal muds for other
bottom feeders.

49. Religious Beliefs and Faiths:
 Excoecaria agallocha – “Temple tree” of
Chidambaram temple – believed to cure incurable
diseases – scientifically proved
 In Gujarat – religious sites of Muslims on Mitha
Chusna, chaad and Pirotan – Muslims don’t cut
mangroves and molest the animals

50.  “Bano bibi” temples – entry points of Sunderbans;
forest god for muslims; forest goddess for hindus
and a tiger God to escape from tiger attack

51. NATURAL DESTRUCTION
 Cyclones, typhoons and strong wave action
 Browsing and trampling by wildlife and livestock
grazing
 Damage by oysters to the young leaves
 Gastropods eat young leaves
 Insects such as wood borers
and caterpillars

52.  Crabs attack young seedlings and propagules

53.  Infestation by barnacles interfere in
photosynthesis and respiration of seedlings

54. MAN-MADE DESTRUCTION
 Indiscriminate tree felling – fuel wood, fodder and
timber
 Enroachment of publicly owned mangrove forest
land roads
 Illegal large scale trade of mangrove fruits –
hinders natural regeneration – fruits used in
medicine
 Industrial effluents released onto water bodies
 Use of Dragnets – young seedling entangled and
uprooted
 Movement of barges

55.  Conversion of mangroves for aquaculture esp.
Shrimp farming
 Impact on shrimp farming on mangroves

56. Conservation Bodies and
Schemes
 IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature
and natural resources
 UNDP – United Nations Development Programme
 MFF – Mangroves For the Future
 NCB – National Co-ordination Body
 Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
 IMCAM – Integrated Marine and Coastal Area
Management
 MSSRF – M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation
 REEF – Regional Ecology and Environmental Federation
 CRZ – Coastal Regulation Zone

57. Laws and Policies in India
 “ The state shall endeavour to protect and
improve the environment and to safeguard the
forests and wildlife in the country, and it is a duty
of every citizen to protect and improve national
environment including forests, lakes, rivers and
wildlife, and to have compassion for living
creatures” - Article 48-A and Article 51-A(g)
of the Directive Principles of State Policy in the
Constitution of India
 National Forest Policy 1988 – environmental
stability and ecological balance

58.  National Conservation Strategy and Policy
Statement on Environment and Development
(1992) – conservation and sustainable
development of mangroves
 National Environment Policy – NEP (2006) –
seeks to achieve balance and harmony between
conservation and development
 Government also taking severe actions against
the persons who are destroying our asset

59.  Government of India issued the coastal zone
regulation on 19th February, 1991 under Section
3(1) and Section 3(2)(v) of the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986
 The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification,
1991, declares coastal stretches of seas, bays,
estuaries, creeks, rivers and back waters, which
are influenced by tidal action (in the landward
side)up to 500 meters from the High Tide Line
(HTL) and the land between the Low Tide Line
(LTL) and the High Tide Line as the Coastal
Regulation Zone.

60.  For regulating developmental activities, coastal
stretches within 500 metres of the High Tide Line
on the landward side are classified into four
categories, as follows:
 Category - I (CRZ-I) :
 CRZ-I(i) :
Ecologically sensitive and important areas: includes
National Parks/Marine Parks, Sanctuaries/reserve forests,
Wildlife habitats, Mangroves, Corals/coral reefs etc.

61.  CRZ-I (ii) :
Area between the Low Tide Line and the High Tide Line.
 No development activities are permitted in CRZ-I, except
for the most essential facilities like laying of pipelines, etc.
 Category – II (CRZ-II):
CRZ-II includes built-up areas. CRZ II
includes mainly developed areas such as
metropolitan cities.

62.  Category – III (CRZ-III):
CRZ-III categories refer to rural areas where
developments like tourism can be extended beyond
200 meters on the landward side.
 Category - IV (CRZ-IV):
CRZ-IV includes coastal stretches of the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep
Islands.

63. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
 A treaty for conservation – 1975 in Iran
 Ramsar site – “areas of marine water the depth of
which at low tide does not exceed six meters" as well
as fish ponds, rice paddies and salt pans”
 At present, 2098 ramsar sites and 164 contracting
parties
 HQ – Gland, Switzerland; meet once in 3 years

64. REPRODUCTION
 They propagate either by seeds or by propagules

65. REGENERATION OF
MANGROVES
1. Natural Regeneration:
 By establishment of seeds of mangroves
 Cost effective; causes no disturbance to habitat
 Develops in the same pattern as origian forest

66. 2. Artificial Regeneration:
 Carried out by nursery development
 Transplanting seedlings or mangroves in
degraded or new areas

67. SAPLING CENTRES

68. Centre For Adavanced Studies in Marine
Biology
Supplier of
saplings to
Puducherry