More mangrove areas to come into being

New Delhi, July 12 (UNI) More mangrove areas may soon be added to the existing list as a result of the efforts made under the Mangrove and Coral Reef Conservation Programme of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Measures taken under the programme have already led to increase in the number of national mangrove sites from 32 since 2001-02 to 38 at present.

''More areas are being identified as mangrove plantation is going to be one of the important components of the proposed Integrated Coastal Zone Management,'' the Ministry says in a report.

Mangroves, which are trees and shrubs that grow in saline coastal habitats in regions of tropical and subtropical climate, work as a guard against erosion of the coast, and provide protection against extreme weather events and habitat to a variety of marine life.

Their guard against surging waves, especially during hurricanes, and tsunamis, saves the coastal areas from massive destruction as their massive root system dissipates wave energy.

Mangroves are very important for the ecosystems. Their roots are home to a wide variety of organisms like algae, barnacles, oysters, sponges and bryozoans.

In India and some other countries of south-east Asia, mangrove plantations are grown in coastal regions for a variety of benefits.

Despite efforts at replantation, the world has lost over half of its mangroves.

Mangroves in India account for about five per cent of the World's mangrove vegetation and are spread over an area of about 4500 square Km along coastal states/Union Territories.

Sundarbans in West Bengal account for a little less than half of the total area under mangorves in the country. The state has maximum of mangroves cover followed by Gujarat and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The Minisry gives 100 per cent assistance to coastal states on grant basis for activities like survey and demarcation, afforestation, restoration, alternative and suplementary livelihoods, protection measures and education and awareness.

Based on an average of an annual target of 3,000 hectares on a country basis, the areas supported under the conservation scheme are among the 38 already identified by the Ministry for intensive conservation.

New areas will be added to the existing list of the 38 on the basis of recommendation by the National Manngrove Committee.

A number of human activities have over the decades threatened the existence of mangroves in the country. They include poorly planned human settlements, improper location of industries, pollution from indutrial units, over exploitation of living natural resources, open access to many coastal resources and no agreed plan for providing sanitation and means of waste treatment.

UNI