Mangroves in focus: Understanding significance, threats and conservation
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Every year, July 26 is celebrated as the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. It was adopted during the 38th session of the general conference of UNESCO held in 2015 and is an important step towards spreading awareness about mangroves and their conservation. In this context, here is a quick look at mangrove ecosystems – from their significance to threats and conservation measures.
(Relevance: UPSC Syllabus General Studies-II, III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment, Government policies and interventions for development.
UPSC has previously asked questions on mangroves not only in prelims but also in Mains, thus covering this topic from a broader perspective becomes essential.)
Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees and shrubs typical of estuarine and intertidal regions, meaning they grow in areas where freshwater and saltwater meet. Mangroves typically have aerial, breathing roots and waxy, succulent leaves, and are flowering plants. They thrive in high-rainfall areas (1,000–3,000 mm) with temperatures ranging from 26°C to 35°C.
The unique characteristic of mangroves is the way their seeds/propagules germinate. The seeds actually germinate on the tree itself, and then fall of from the tree into the water, taking root only when encumbered by mud and sediment. This is very unique adaptation in the mangroves that helps them perpetuate in the harsh saline conditions. This phenomenon is scientifically termed vivipary.
Red mangrove, avicennia marina, grey mangrove, rhizophora etc., are some common mangrove trees. Abundant in swampy and marshy areas, mangroves represent a littoral forest ecosystem, which means they thrive in saline or brackish waters in coastal regions.
Mangroves in India
Mangroves are distributed in 123 nations and territories mostly in the tropics and subtropics. As per the Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, India's mangrove cover is around 4,992 sq. km, constituting 0.15% of the country's total geographical area. West Bengal has the largest mangrove cover in India. Gujarat comes second with an estimated area of 1,177 sq km, with mangrove forests largely located in Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambhat. With an estimated mangrove forests spread over 794 sq km, Kutch district has the largest mangrove area in Gujarat. Mangrove ecosystems are also found in Andhra Pradesh (Godavari-Krishna delta), Kerala, and the Andaman Islands.
The Sundarbans (spread across India and Bangladesh) is the largest contiguous mangrove forest in the world, while Bhitarkanika is the second largest in India. The Sundarbans National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site and is famous for the Royal Bengal tigers, Gangetic dolphins, and other flora and fauna. Bhitarkanika is renowned for its vulnerable Olive Ridley turtles and salt-water crocodiles.
'Mangroves are rare, spectacular and prolific ecosystems on the boundary between land and sea. These extra ordinary ecosystems contribute to the wellbeing, food security, and protection of coastal communities worldwide.'- UNESCO
Mangrove are of profound ecological and economic significance, benefiting in multiple ways, such as:
1. Natural coastal defense (Bio-shields): Mangroves act as natural coastal guards and protectors. They are also referred to as 'bio-shields' as they mitigate the impact of strong waves and winds while guarding against coastal and soil erosion, primarily because of their roots.
2. Carbon sinks: Mangroves act as essential carbon sinks (absorb more carbon than they release) and are helpful in mitigating global warming. According to UNESCO, 'One hectare of mangrove can store 3,754 tons of carbon it's the equivalent of taking 2,650+ cars off the road for one year.'
Mangrove trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere and deposit it in the soil, where the carbon can remain for thousands of years if undisturbed. Mangroves behave differently from other trees that also remove CO2 as part of the photosynthesis process — the latter store the carbon in their branches and roots but, when the tree dies, the carbon is released back into the air. Mangroves, on the other hand, transfer the carbon to the soil, where it stays unaffected even if the tree is destroyed.
3. Economical Significance: Since mangroves are found in coastal regions, they are also a source of livelihood for coastal communities. Fisherwomen and farmers depend on the wide variety of ecological wealth mangroves offer. Fish farming, non-timber forest produce, honey collection, and boating are some local occupations on which locals depend. Additionally, different varieties of fish, shrimps, prawns, and plants thrive in mangrove forests supporting the blue economy.
4. Supports biodiversity: These mangroves are rich in biodiversity. They support complex communities, where thousands of other species interact. They provide a valuable nursery habitat for fish and crustaceans; a food source for monkeys, deer, birds, even kangaroos; and a source of nectar for honeybees.
More than half of the world's mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse, with nearly one in five facing severe risk, according to the findings of the first global mangrove assessment.
According to UNESCO, despite the multifaceted significance of Mangroves, they are disappearing three to five times faster than overall global forest losses, with serious ecological and socio-economic impacts. Current estimates indicate that mangrove coverage has been divided by two in the past 40 years.
Deforestation, pollution and dam construction pose a serious threat to mangroves, but the risk to these ecosystems is increasing due to sea-level rise and the increased frequency of severe storms due to climate change.
Global warming and sea-level rise may lead to increased submergence of the mangroves and studies have shown that mangroves are pushed towards land due to sea-level rise over the period of time. However, landward movement is limited by human settlements and other industrial activities. Therefore, mangroves may be squeezed to a level where their conservation and restoration may not be possible.
Notably, climate change threatens one-third (33 per cent) of the mangrove ecosystems, according to the study done using the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Ecosystems — a global standard for measuring the health of ecosystems.
The assessment finds that maintaining mangrove ecosystems across the globe will be key for mitigating the impacts of climate change, with healthy mangroves able to better cope with sea level rise and offering inland protection from the impacts of hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones.
Mangroves face immense threats from rampant urbanisation, depletion of coastal land systems because of agriculture, shrimp farming, and other dangers from rising sea temperatures. Unsustainable tourism practices also affect these vulnerable ecosystems.
However, increasingly, the protection of mangroves as a strategy for climate change-oriented action is gaining popularity. Some global efforts include Mangroves for the Future (MFF) and Mangroves Alliance for Climate.
In India, initiatives and schemes such as the MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes), Amrit Dharohar, West Bengal's Sustainable Aquaculture In Mangrove Ecosystem (SAIME) and the Andhra Pradesh's Vana Samrakshana Samitis, and the Green Tamil Nadu Mission are some examples.
At the 27th Session of Conference of Parties (COP27, held in Egypt last year, the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) was launched to unite countries, including India, 'to scale up, accelerate conservation, restoration and growing plantation efforts of mangrove ecosystems for the benefit of communities globally, and recognise the importance of these ecosystems for climate change mitigation and adaption'.
MFF is a unique partner-led initiative to promote investment in coastal ecosystem conservation for sustainable development. Co-chaired by IUCN and UNDP, MFF provides a platform for collaboration among the many different agencies, sectors and countries which are addressing challenges to coastal ecosystem and livelihood issues. It initially focused on the countries that were worst affected by the tsunami -- India, Indonesia, Maldives, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
More recently it has expanded to include Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Pakistan and Vietnam. Mangroves are the flagship of the initiative, but MFF is inclusive of all types of coastal ecosystems, such as coral reefs, estuaries, lagoons, sandy beaches, seagrasses and wetlands.
'Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI)' was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24 to promote and conserve mangroves as unique, natural eco-system having very high biological productivity and carbon sequestration potential, besides working as a bio shield. It was launched by Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change on 5th June 2023.
However, beyond these initiatives, it is also required to create awareness, strengthen legal frameworks, increase collaborations between various countries, incorporate best practices from each other, and conduct scientific studies with a focus on understanding mangrove mechanisms to adapt to changing climatic regimes, especially fluctuating salinity of the sea, the decline in freshwater to the estuaries, and rising global temperatures.
It is essential to identify the regional conservation bottlenecks to devise better strategies for their conservation. A common global strategy with set goals must be devised to save our mangroves for a better and sustainable future.
Prelims
(1) Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest? (UPSC CSE 2015)
(a) North Coastal Andhra Pradesh
(b) South-West Bengal
(c) Southern Saurashtra
(d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(2) With reference to the mangroves, consider the following statements:
1. They act as a buffer between the ocean and the land.
2. They prevent erosion by absorbing wave action.
3. Mangroves require carbon dioxide for their roots to survive.
4. Pichavaram Mangrove Forest is located in West Bengal.
How many of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
(3) With reference to the Sundarbans mangrove forest, consider the following statements:
1. It lies on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers on the Bay of Bengal.
2. It is a World Heritage site which was inscribed in 1987.
3. It lies on the India-Myanmar border.
4. It is the world's second-largest contiguous mangrove forest.
How many of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Mains
Discuss the causes of depletion of mangroves and explain their importance in maintaining coastal ecology. (UPSC CSE 2019)
(Sources: unesco.org, Mangroves: Ecology, economy, and a boat ride in Pichavaram, How mothers built a forest in world's largest delta, What happens if all mangroves are destroyed?, mangrovesforthefuture.org)
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Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: roshni.yadav@indianexpress.com ... Read More
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(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation According to 'The energetic ultraviolet light from these first stars was capable of splitting hydrogen atoms back into electrons and protons (or ionizing them). This era, from the end of the dark ages to when the universe was around a billion years old, is known as 'the epoch of reionization.' It refers to the point when most of the neutral hydrogen was reionized by the increasing radiation from the first massive stars. Reionization is an important phenomenon in our universe's history as it presents one of the few means by which we can (indirectly) study these earliest stars. But scientists do not know exactly when the first stars formed and when this reionization process started to occur.' Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 119) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 121) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 120) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Manas Srivastava is currently working as Senior Copy Editor with The Indian Express (digital) and leads a unique initiative of IE - UPSC Essentials. He majorly writes on UPSC, other competitive exams and education-related projects. In the past, Manas has represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He is a former member of the Youth Council, GOI. A two-time topper/gold medallist in History (both in graduation and post-graduation) from Delhi University, he has mentored and taught UPSC aspirants for more than five years. His diverse role in The Indian Express consists of writing, editing, anchoring/ hosting, interviewing experts, and curating and simplifying news for the benefit of students. He hosts the YouTube talk show called 'Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik' and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called 'LIVE with Manas'.His talks on 'How to read a newspaper' focus on newspaper reading as an essential habit for students. His articles and videos aim at finding solutions to the general queries of students and hence he believes in being students' editor, preparing them not just for any exam but helping them to become informed citizens. This is where he makes his teaching profession meet journalism. He is also the editor of UPSC Essentials' monthly magazine for the aspirants. He is a recipient of the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He was also awarded the University's Post-Graduate Scholarship for pursuing M.A. in History where he chose to specialise in Ancient India due to his keen interest in Archaeology. He has also successfully completed a Certificate course on Women's Studies by the Women's Studies Development Centre, DU. As a part of N.S.S in the past, Manas has worked with national and international organisations and has shown keen interest and active participation in Social Service. He has led and been a part of projects involving areas such as gender sensitisation, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, adopting our heritage programme. He has also presented a case study on 'Psychological stress among students' at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka. As a compere for seminars and other events he likes to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests also lie in International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays and poetry. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Hindustan Times
UPSC Geo-Scientist Main exam result 2025 declared at upsc.gov.in, direct link here to check
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced the results of the Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination 2025 on the official portal. Candidates who have appeared for the main examination can check the results through the official website of UPSC at UPSC Geo-Scientist Main exam result 2025 declared, direct link here to check The examination was conducted from June 21, 2025, to June 22, 2025. Candidates who have qualified this written exam are now further eligible to appear for the Personality Interview Round. As per press release on the official website, The roll numbers of the shortlisted candidates have been made available on the official UPSC website. As of now, the candidate's candidature will remain provisional until the time of the interview and personality test, when the candidate will be required to produce the original certificates to support their claim related to the details of age, educational qualification, community, physical disability, and EWS. UPSC Geo-Scientist Main exam result 2025: How to check Candidates to follow these steps to check the list. Go to the official UPSC website at On the homepage, navigate through the 'What's New' section. Select on "Written Result: Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination 2025" link. Download the result PDF, check your Roll Number in the list . Save for further need Moreover, a window of 15 days will be opened for candidates who qualified for interview to fill out their educational qualification status on the official portal. A Detailed Application Form (DAF) will be opened from July 29 to August 12, 2025 (up to 6:00 p.m.). The schedule for shortlisted candidates' interviews will be available on the commission's website shortly. Commission to release Candidates' mark-sheets on the Commission's Website within 15 days from the date of publication of the final result (after conducting the Personality Test) and will remain available on the Website for a period of around 30 days for candidates to access the mark sheets after login in with their assigned Roll Numbers and date of birth. The printed copy of the candidates' Mark Sheets would be issued by UPSC to the candidates based on a specific request, accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. Candidate may obtain any information regarding their examination or result on working days between 10.00 am to 5.00 pm in person or over telephone Nos. (011)- 23385271, 23381125, 23098543. For more updates, candidates to check official website.
