Need of the HOUR

The author emphasises the crucial need to protect the existing mangrove forests, and to try and restore what was lost.

- DR SHEETAL PACHPANDE

Mangroves are found in more than a hundred countries across the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They are unique plant life from land that has escaped competition and dipped their toes in the water creating a magical in-between place that has massive benefits for the surrounding ocean and the habitats on the land - for everything from flying creatures like birds to reptiles like turtles, crocodiles, and mammals like tigers, otters, jackals. It's not just wildlife but us who are drawn to the magic of Mangroves.

This unique landscape comprises unique families of plants and about 80 species in all. They all have adapted to form a network of roots that spread out to anchor them in this sediment of the coast and aerial roots that can rise above the soggy ground to absorb oxygen and special salt glands in the leaves, which can extract and expel the salt taken from the seawater.

The roots of mangroves make fantastic playpens for a myriad of baby fishes. Some fish species lay eggs in the mangroves so that the young ones can hatch among the roots. Other species spawn at sea but their planktonic babies know to make their way into mangroves for safety. Many commercially important species begin their life in mangrove forests. Even the colourful fish in the coral reefs that are so loved by human divers is dependent on mangroves for raising their young ones. It is said that coral reefs that are close to mangroves have 25% more fish on them. Mangroves offer sheltering and feeding to the little ones, and keeps them out of the reach of the bigger predators of open water.

This fact attracts several avian species of birds to the mangroves for feeding. Some are resident bird species while others are migratory and travel hundreds of kilometres in search of food and shelter.