About mangroves ; Why should we protect mangroves?........... Mangroves, admittedly, are not only important but crucial for the coastal areas. They play a vital role in stabilizing these areas. No engineering and technological solutions can be sought for stabilizing these areas. Even if we negate all benefits of mangroves as forests, their value as protector of shore-line is enough to convince us for conserving them. Mangroves are buffers between the land and the sea. Coastlines throughout the world are facing serious problems of coastal erosion and threat of rising sea levels due to global warming have increased the threats by several folds. To control such assault of the sea on land the nature has provided what is called as Mangroves, a tropical littoral ecosystem which is more dynamic than the sea itself. Mangroves not only help in preventing soil erosion but also act as a catalyst in reclaiming land from seas. This is a very unique phenomenon, since there is a general tendency of water to engulf land. Mangrove forests and estuaries are the breeding and nursery grounds for a number of marine organisms including the commercially important shrimp, crab and fish species. Hence, loss of mangroves not only affects us indirectly but there are direct economic repercussions through loss of fishing industry. Mangrove trees are also used for house building, furniture, transmission as well as telephone poles and certain household items. When these activities are managed appropriately it is possible to derive timber products from mangrove forests without significant environmental degradation, and while maintaining their value as a nursery and a source of food for commercial capture fisheries. Above all, Mangroves are now looked after by scientists as saviors in the todays scenario of global warming. We all know that most of the coastal areas throughout the world are going to be affected by sea level rise due to global warming. The effects of which are already visible. Therefore, when most of the coastal areas will be flooded, mangroves can possibly provide a gene bank for cultivating salt tolerant species of crops which could be our future resource. Importance of Mangroves # Buffer Zone between the land and sea. # Protect the land from erosion. # Play an invaluable role as natures shield against cyclones, ecological disasters and as protector of shorelines. # Breeding and nursery grounds for a variety of marine animals. # Harbour a variety of lifeforms like invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and even mammals like tigers. # Good source of timber, fuel and fodder. # Main source of income generation for shoreline communities like fisherfolk. # Save the marine diversity, which is fast diminishing. # Purify the water by absorbing impurities and harmful heavy metals and help us to breathe a clean air by absorbing pollutants in the air. # Potential source for recreation and tourism.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 01:06:28 +0000
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