MANGROVE CONSERVATION

When we hear the word Mangroves, we instantly associate it with Sundarbans. Yes, Sundarbans is the largest Mangrove forest in India, however, there are others too, in different parts of India. Beautiful and somewhat mysterious yet so alluring

- ANUPA ROY

What is a Mangrove actually? It is a small tree or shrub that grows along coastlines, taking root in salty sediments, often underwater. The word 'mangrove' might refer to the habitat as a whole or to the trees and shrubs in the mangrove swamp. Mangroves are flowering trees, belonging to the families Rhizophoraceae, Acanthaceae, Lythraceae, Combretaceae, and Arecaceae.

The underground tissue of any plant needs oxygen for respiration. However, in a mangrove environment, the oxygen in the 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. With their roots submerged in water, mangrove trees thrive in hot, muddy, salty conditions that would quickly kill most plants.

Mangroves, like desert plants, store fresh water in thick succulent leaves. A waxy coating on the leaves seals in the water and minimises evaporation.

The 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 solid ground. Typically, they are found only along sheltered coastlines within tropical or subtropical latitudes because they cannot withstand freezing temperatures. They share the unique capability of growing within reach of the tides in salty soil.

Apart from Sundarbans in West Bengal, Mangroves are also present in Gujarat and Andaman Nicobar Islands.

West Bengal has the highest percentage of area under total Mangrove cover followed by Gujarat and Andaman Nicobar Islands.