112 Sqkm Increase of Mangroves Reported

The latest report of the Forest Survey of India (FSI), 2015 released in December has recorded a net increase of 112 sq. km. of mangroves forest.

The earlier FSI report in 2013 recorded a net decrease of 34 sq. km. of mangrove forest.

The highest increase in the mangrove cover as per the FSI 2015 is from Maharashtra, which has added 36 sq. km. West Bengal, which can considerably increase its mangrove cover, has only been able to augment it by 9 sq. km.

According to the latest report, the overall mangrove cover in the country stands at 4,740 sq. km., which is 0.14 sq. km. of India’s overall geographical area.

In fact, there are only 12 States and Union Territories along the country’s coastline that can boast of mangroves.

West Bengal, which has a total mangrove cover of 2,106 sq. km., accounts for 44.5 per cent, the highest in the country.

It is followed by Gujarat with about 1,107 sq. km. . Andaman and Nicobar islands also has a considerable mangrove forest cover with 617 sq. km. of it.

As per the report, the very dense mangrove forest in the country comprises 1,472 sq. km. (31.05 per cent), moderately dense mangrove spans 1,391 sq. km (29.75 per cent) and open mangroves constitute 1,877 sq. km. (39.60 per cent).

Numerous studies have shown that mangroves absorb the highest amount of carbon in the nature, including soil carbon.

Mangroves are crucial to the survival of the coastal ecosystem, which is very vulnerable to climate change.