Mangroves are salt-tolerant forest ecosystems found mainly in tropical and sub-tropical intertidal regions of the world. They are trees or shrubs that have the common trait of growing in shallow and muddy salt water or brackish waters, especially along quiet shorelines and in estuaries. They exhibit remarkable capacity for saltwater tolerance. Typically they produce tangled masses of arching roots that are exposed during low tides. Mangroves do not appear on sandy beaches and rocky shores. A muddy substratum of varying depth and consistency is necessary for their growth. The eco-system is highly fragile, subjected to long duration of intrusion as well as incessant physiological and morphological stresses, salinity effect, aeration and onslaught of wave action.
Mangrove forests are one of the most productive and biodiverse wetlands on earth. Yet, these unique coastal tropical forests are among the most threatened habitats in the world. They may be disappearing more quickly than inland tropical rainforests, and so far, with little public notice. Growing in the intertidal areas and estuary mouths between land and sea, mangroves provide critical habitat for a diverse marine and terrestrial flora and fauna. Healthy mangrove forests are key to a healthy marine ecology. In fact, mangrove forests fix more carbon dioxide per unit area than phytoplankton in tropical oceans. Mangroves are valuable ecological and economic resources as they are important nursery grounds and breeding sites for birds, fish, crustaceans, shellfish, reptiles and mammals; a renewable source of wood; accumulation sites for sediment, contaminants, carbon and nutrients; and offer protection against coastal erosion and tsunami.
Mangrove forests are one of the most productive and biodiverse wetlands on earth. Yet, these unique coastal tropical forests are among the most threatened habitats in the world. They may be disappearing more quickly than inland tropical rainforests, and so far, with little public notice. Growing in the intertidal areas and estuary mouths between land and sea, mangroves provide critical habitat for a diverse marine and terrestrial flora and fauna. Healthy mangrove forests are key to a healthy marine ecology. In fact, mangrove forests fix more carbon dioxide per unit area than phytoplankton in tropical oceans. Mangroves are valuable ecological and economic resources as they are important nursery grounds and breeding sites for birds, fish, crustaceans, shellfish, reptiles and mammals; a renewable source of wood; accumulation sites for sediment, contaminants, carbon and nutrients; and offer protection against coastal erosion and tsunami.
The threat to the mangrove ecosystem could be broadly grouped into two: Natural and Anthropogenic. These factors may affect the system as a whole or any one entity within the system, etc. The natural threats include: Climatic changes, Cyclones and Physical processes. Diseases, deterioration, pollution, grazing, agriculture, aquaculture and human encroachment (including reclamation), etc., are considered as the anthropogenic threats to the ecosystem.
Mangroves have been particularly vulnerable to exploitation because they contain valuable wood and fisheries resources, and occupy coastal land that is easily converted to other uses. The scale of human impact on mangroves destruction of mangroves is usually proportional to human population density.
Major reasons for destruction are urban development, aquaculture, mining, agriculture and over exploitation for timber, fish, crustaceans and shellfish. The remaining mangrove forests are under immense pressure from clear cutting, encroachment, hydrological alterations, chemical spills, storms and climate change disaster.
The topic of our discussion is a small patch of mangrove forest near the Meghadrigedda creek of Visakhapatnam coast of Andhra Pradesh. There is no mention of these mangroves in the Forest Survey of India report, which has been carrying out regular mapping and monitoring of the forest resources of India every two years Mr Venkanna and Venkateswarlu reported the occurrence of mangroves and their associates in Meghadrigedda creek but these studies do not give a detailed floristic account of mangroves and their habitats.
Major reasons for destruction are urban development, aquaculture, mining, agriculture and over exploitation for timber, fish, crustaceans and shellfish. The remaining mangrove forests are under immense pressure from clear cutting, encroachment, hydrological alterations, chemical spills, storms and climate change disaster.
The topic of our discussion is a small patch of mangrove forest near the Meghadrigedda creek of Visakhapatnam coast of Andhra Pradesh. There is no mention of these mangroves in the Forest Survey of India report, which has been carrying out regular mapping and monitoring of the forest resources of India every two years Mr Venkanna and Venkateswarlu reported the occurrence of mangroves and their associates in Meghadrigedda creek but these studies do not give a detailed floristic account of mangroves and their habitats.
The website http://www.mangroveindia.org/ is funded by Ministry of Environment and Forest and National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa did not give any detail about the meghadrigedda creek.Is this an error in data interpretation or mere neglect, Ashaming!
The creek located in Visakhapatnam (17°42′30″–17°43′11″N and 83°14′45″–83°15′50″E) on the east coast is flushed by the seasonal Meghadrigedda stream. The Meghadrigedda reservoir is the main water supply reservoir to Visakhapatnam the stream travels a long distance and joins the sea at Visakhapatnam Port Inner Harbour. Various industrial effluents join the stream and are ultimately discharged into the inner harbour waters.Here goes to the map of visakhaptnam showing the spread of mangroves
The creek located in Visakhapatnam (17°42′30″–17°43′11″N and 83°14′45″–83°15′50″E) on the east coast is flushed by the seasonal Meghadrigedda stream. The Meghadrigedda reservoir is the main water supply reservoir to Visakhapatnam the stream travels a long distance and joins the sea at Visakhapatnam Port Inner Harbour. Various industrial effluents join the stream and are ultimately discharged into the inner harbour waters.Here goes to the map of visakhaptnam showing the spread of mangroves
It is learned that EAST INDIA PETROLUEM LIMITED has planned to expand its storage plant, just adjacent to its existing one, ere mangroves are currently present, which is objectionable!, condemned.
Mangroves can grown by plantation to restore the wetlands, for more information about this refer:manual for mangrove nursery raising technique by Ravishankar, T. and R. Ramasubramanian. 2004, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation; Chennai,India.This manual was prepared with the generous support ofIndia Canada Environment Facility (ICEF),NewDelhihttp://www.unep-wcmc.org/forest/restoration/pdfs/Mangrove_Nursery_manual_HR.pdf
In August 2011, Former Power Secretary legal action against Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) for illegal occupation and clearing of Mangroves adjacent to their present facility in Visakhapatnam.
