1. Submitted By
Gaadha Suresh and Navanitha.A.Warrier
Kerala Law Academy Law College

2. OUTLINE
Mangrove Defined
Occurrence
Importance of
mangroves
Threats to Mangroves
Causes for destruction
and degradation of
Mangroves
Steps taken towards
conservation
Suggestions

3. Mangroves- Defined
 A mangrove is a tree, shrub, palm or ground fern, generally
exceeding one half meter in height
 It normally grows above mean sea level in the inter-tidal
zone of marine coastal environments and estuarine
margins.
 Mangroves dominate three-quarters of tropical coastlines.
 Mangrove swamps are found in tropical and subtropical
tidal areas.

4. OCCURANCE
 Mangroves can be found in over 118 countries and
territories in the tropical and subtropical regions of
the world.
 Approximately 75% of the world’s mangroves are found
scattered in about15 countries.
 Asia has the largest amount (42%) of the world’s
mangroves, followed by Africa (21%), North/Central
America (15%), Oceania (12%) and South America
(11%).

5.  The richest mangrove communities occur in tropical
and sub-tropical areas with temperature greater than
24 degree
 In India, the total area of Mangroves is about 6,740 sq.
km, {7% of the world total area of mangroves}.
 Around 20% of the mangroves in India are on the west
coast i.e from Kutch to Kerala.

6. IMPORTANCE OF MANGROVES
 Acts as Buffer Zone between the land and sea.
 Protects the land from erosion.
 Plays a significant role as nature's shield against cyclones,
ecological disasters and as protector of shorelines.
 Acts as Breeding and nursery grounds for a variety of marine animals.
 Harbours a variety of life forms like invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles,
birds and even mammals like tigers.

7.  Good source of timber, fuel and fodder.
 Main source of income generation for shoreline
communities like fisher folk.
 Saves the fast diminishing marine diversity,
 Purifies the water and air by absorbing pollutants
and impurities
 Potential source for recreation and tourism.

8. THREATS TO MANGROVES
 Mangrove forests are fading into disappearance all over the
world.
 They were estimated to cover 18.1 million sq. km worldwide
but a more recent study estimates it around 15 million sq.
km.
 The world mangrove experts opine that the mangroves may
be totally lost within 100 years.
 In the sheltered tropical coastlines such as delta areas of
Ganges-Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy and Niger as well in the
coastlines of the Malacca Straits, Borneo and Madagascar,
mangrove areas are under heavy human pressure.

9. Country Period of Record Estimated original Estimated present Percentage (%)
mangrove area (ha) mangrove area (ha)
Cuba 1969-1989 476000 448000 94
Bangladesh 1963-1990 685000 587000 86
Guatemala 1965-1978 58000 50000 86
Peninsular Malaysia 1979-1986 113000 89000 79
Ecuador 1966-1989 235000 177500 76
Thailand 1961-1993 300000 219200 73
Vietnam 1969-1990 425000 286400 67
U.S.A 1958-1983 260000 175000 67
Colombia 1976-1989 480000 307000 64
Indonesia 1969-1986 4220000 2176000 52
Philippines 1968-1995 448000 140000 31
Singapore 1922-1989 700 180 26
Puerto Rico 1930-1985 26300 3000 11
India 1911-1989 70000 250 4

10. CAUSES OF DEGRADATION AND
DESTRUCTION OF MANGROVES
 Aquaculture Practices
 Urbanization
 Cutting for timber,fuel and charcoal
 Agriculture
 Mining Operations
 War Problems
 Prevention of fresh water flow and tidal flow
 Oil Pollution
 Pollution Issues

11. CAUSES OF DEGRADATION AND
DESTRUCTION OF MANGROVES
 Aquaculture Practices
 Urbanization
 Cutting for timber,fuel and charcoal
 Agriculture
 Mining Operations
 War Problems
 Prevention of fresh water flow and tidal flow
 Oil Pollution
 Pollution Issues

12. STEPS TAKEN TOWARDS CONSERVATION
 Grassroots efforts to save mangroves from
destruction are becoming more popular
 In some areas, mangrove reforestation
and mangrove restoration is underway.
 UNDP/UNESCO has played a key role in bringing
out awareness on the mangrove destruction and on
why it needs to be conserved.

13.  The National Mangrove Committee at the Ministry of
Environment and Forests was set up by the
Government of India in 1976, for advising the
government on mangrove conservation and
development.
 Activities sponsored by the UNDP/UNESCO -Regional
mangrove project have greatly contributed to
mangrove awareness in India.

14.  HOPE (Here On Project Environment), -NGO from
Mumbai has undertaken a program of mangrove
plantation - Rutuchakra, Maharashtra, India.
 Horticulture department has undertaken integrated
Rehabilitation and Conservation effort through
massive “Afforestation program” since 2005 in Thane
Municipal Corporation.

15. SUGGESTIONS
 Practical means of protection of mangroves should be
evolved
 Urgent new laws and regulations should be framed for the
protection of mangroves.
 Human encroachment in mangrove forests should be
discouraged.
 Importance of protection of mangroves should be brought
to the limelight.
 Mining operations near mangroves should be legally
stopped

16.  In order to determine the most effective remedial
measures, individual study has to be conducted.
 Continued monitoring and assessment should be
conducted