Mangroves help protect India's coasts from storms, erosion, pests, and provide food to communities.
Imagine a world where coastal cities aren't ravaged by storms, where clean water flows freely, and where food is abundant. This might sound like a far-off dream, but it's actually within our reach. Nature-based solutions (NbS) are a powerful approach to addressing societal challenges by working with and enhancing natural ecosystems. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), nature based solutions leverage the ability of nature to provide sustainable solutions for issues like climate change adaptation, food security, and disaster risk reduction.
Mangroves: a nature based solution
For example, mangroves, tropical trees that thrive in brackish waters, are an ideal representation of Nature Based solutions. Mangroves, those unique tropical trees with their tangled roots and lush green leaves, are like guardians of the coast. They protect shorelines from erosion, soak up carbon dioxide like sponges, and provide a home for biodiversityThey also help purify water, prevent flooding, and provide food and resources for local communities.Therefore, mangroves exemplify how NbS can play an essential role in tackling climate change and mitigating environmental degradation.
Mangroves are vital ecosystems in the fight against climate change, acting as nature’s powerful carbon sinks. Found along coastlines in tropical and subtropical regions, these remarkable intertidal wetlands can sequester up to five times more carbon than traditional forests per hectare. Mangroves work by trapping and burying organic matter in their soils, mangroves keep carbon locked away for hundreds of years, preventing it from re-entering the atmosphere. This unique ability not only makes them essential for long-term carbon storage but also highlights their role as "blue carbon" ecosystems. Protecting and restoring mangrove forests is crucial for global climate mitigation efforts, helping to lower CO₂ levels and slow the effects of climate change. In doing so, we safeguard not just the health of our planet but also the rich biodiversity that thrives within these incredible habitats.
Role of mangroves
Carbon sequestration
Mangroves are vital ecosystems that play a significant role in combating climate change through their exceptional ability to capture and store carbon. The muddy, carbon-rich soil in which mangroves grow allows them to accumulate carbon over time. They trap sediment and stabilise the soil and the carbon within it. This ability to store carbon is crucial; research indicates that the carbon held beneath mangroves can be up to four times greater than that found in other tropical forests.
Biodiversity Conservation
Mangroves are habitats to marine life like fish, shrimp, and mollusks, providing vital breeding and nursery grounds. On land, birds and reptiles find refuge among the tangled roots. But their role goes beyond being just a home; mangroves are nature’s bridge, seamlessly connecting the worlds of water and land. By protecting these ecosystems, we safeguard wildlife and human communities that rely on them for food, livelihoods, and protection against natural disasters.
Protecting coastlines
Coastal zones worldwide are becoming increasingly vulnerable due to climate change and excessive development, especially as more people live in these areas. Research shows that these mangroves protect coastlines by stabilising shorelines, reducing the impact of storm surges, and sequestering carbon. By integrating mangroves into coastal management strategies, we can mitigate the effects of natural disasters but also enhance climate change adaptation through natural carbon absorption. We can not only mitigate the effects of natural disasters but also enhance climate change adaptation through natural carbon absorption. Many studies demonstrate how surges amplified up to 57%, velocity by 2730%, inundation distance rose by 10 km, and flood areas by 18% when mangroves were removed along the Sundarbans mangroves in Bangladesh. The protection mangroves provide from storm surges and other climate related natural disasters also prevents disruption in the local economy and lifestyle.
Restoring mangrove habitats has real, tangible benefits for local communities, both environmentally and economically. When healthy, mangroves become nurseries and feeding grounds for a variety of marine life like fish, mollusks, and crustaceans.Mangroves, with their sprawling root systems, offer a safe space for young marine creatures—like baby sharks, groupers, and parrotfish—to grow before they move out to coral reefs. This natural cycle helps sustain biodiversity and supports community livelihoods through activities like reef tourism and offshore fishing. This strengthens local fisheries and provides essential food and income for the people living nearby..
Threats to mangroves
Mangroves stand on the brink of destruction. In recent years, the rapid expansion of the tourism industry, coupled with rampant pollution from fertiliser and pesticide runoff, and poor waste management, deforestation for aquaculture, coastal development, and logging for fuel and lumber have threatened these fragile ecosystems. In some areas with high levels of oil extraction activities, oil spills also pose a threat to mangroves. 11 out of 70 mangrove species are at high risk of extinction. The degradation of these critical habitats threatened endangered aquatic species, and the commercial and subsistence fish that are lifeblood for coastal populations. As mangroves vanish, coastal ecosystems are disrupted, leading to alarming declines in fish populations and leaving local fisherfolk struggling for survival. If current protective measures are not implemented, many species may face extinction within the next decade, leading to severe economic and environmental repercussions, particularly in regions already vulnerable due to low mangrove diversity and high species loss.
(Also Read: Impact of tourism on Goa)
Pilot projects of mangrove restoration
The Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove ecosystem, stretches across 10,000 square kilometres, covering parts of West Bengal in India and southern Bangladesh. The Sundari Project is a vital initiative aimed at restoring damaged mangroves in the Indian Sundarbans, a region where mangroves are essential for both biodiversity and human livelihoods. The Indian Sundarbans are home to 4.5 million people, most of whom rely on the mangroves for survival.. The project aims to restore 4,000 hectares of damaged mangroves by planting a range of native species and involving local communities in the restoration process. By combining mangrove restoration with community engagement, the Sundari Project addresses both environmental and human needs. The local population directly benefited from a healthier mangrove ecosystem through improved livelihoods, and their involvement ensures long-term stewardship.
Mangroves are vital to coastal ecosystems, offering a wide range of ecological, economic, and social benefits. They play a key role in carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and coastal protection, making them essential in the fight against climate change. Restoring and protecting mangrove forests can safeguard coastal communities, promote sustainable development, and help mitigate environmental challenges. As nature-based solutions, mangroves provide a cost-effective and sustainable strategy for building resilience. Investing in their conservation is not only an environmental necessity but a critical step toward securing a more sustainable and resilient future for both nature and society.
References
Sunkur, R., Bhat, S., Velez, L., Guo, X., & Bouma, T. J. (2023). Mangroves' role in supporting ecosystem-based techniques to reduce disaster risk and adapt to climate change: A review. Journal of Sea Research, 196, 102449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2023.102449
Van Hespen, R., Hu, Z., Borsje, B., De Dominicis, M., Friess, D. A., Jevrejeva, S., Kleinhans, M. G., Maza, M., Van Bijsterveldt, C. E., Van Der Stocken, T., Van Wesenbeeck, B., Xie, D., & Bouma, T. J. (2022). Mangrove forests as a nature-based solution for coastal flood protection: Biophysical and ecological considerations. Water Science and Engineering, 16(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wse.2022.10.004
Bryan-Brown, D. N., Connolly, R. M., Richards, D. R., & others. (2020). Global trends in mangrove forest fragmentation. Scientific Reports, 10, 7117. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-63880-1
Polidoro, B. A., Carpenter, K. E., Collins, L., Duke, N. C., Ellison, A. M., Ellison, J. C., Farnsworth, E. J., Fernando, E. S., Kathiresan, K., Koedam, N. E., Livingstone, S. R., Miyagi, T., Moore, G. E., Ngoc Nam, V., Ong, J. E., Primavera, J. H., Salmo, S. G., Sanciangco, J. C., Sukardjo, S., Wang, Y., … Yong, J. W. (2010). The loss of species: mangrove extinction risk and geographic areas of global concern. PloS one, 5(4), e10095. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0010095
EcoAct. (n.d.). Sundari mangrove restoration in India. EcoAct. https://eco-act.com/project/sundari-mangrove-restoration-india/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). Coastal blue carbon. NOAA Ocean Service. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/ecosystems/coastal-blue-carbon/
Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide. (n.d.). Mangroves: Threats. ELAW. https://elaw.org/mangroves-threats
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