![]() ![]() This buried carbon is known as “blue carbon” because it is stored underwater in coastal ecosystems like mangrove forests, seagrass beds and salt marshes.Once the leaves and older trees die they fall to the seafloor and take the stored carbon with them to be buried in the soil.Storing Blue Carbon: Mangroves make up less than 2% of marine environments but account for 10-15% of carbon burial.Both coral reefs and seagrass beds rely on the water purifying ability of mangrove forests to keep the water clear and healthy.Water Purification: Mangroves improve the water quality by absorbing nutrients from runoff that might otherwise cause harmful algal blooms offshore.Coastal Stabilisation: Mangrove forests stabilize the coastline, reducing erosion from storm surges, currents, waves, and tides.Most mangroves get flooded at least twice per day.Mangroves and Tides: The dense tangle of roots allows the trees to handle the daily rise and fall of tides.They play a significant role in promoting land accretion, fixation of mud banks, dissipation of winds, tidal and wave energy.They provide protection against cyclones. ![]() Ecological Stabilisation: Ecologically mangroves are important in maintaining and building the soil, as a reservoir in the tertiary assimilation of waste.West Bengal has 42.45% of India’s mangrove cover, followed by Gujarat 23.66% and A&N Islands 12.39%.Pichavaram in Tamil Nadu has a vast expanse of water covered with mangrove forests.The backwatersin Kerala have a high density of mangrove forest.The deltas of the Ganges, Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, and the Cauvery rivers contain mangrove forests.Godavari-Krishna Mangroves, Andhra Pradesh: The Godavari-Krishna mangroves extend from Odisha to Tamil Nadu.It is one of the most significant Ramsar wetlands in India.Bhitarkanika Mangroves: The second largest mangrove forest in India is Bhitarkanika in Odisha created by the two river deltas of River Brahmani and Baitarani.The forest is home to the Royal Bengal tiger, Gangetic dolphins and Estuarine crocodiles.It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Largest Mangrove Forest: Sundarbans in West Bengal are the largest mangrove forest regions in the world.West Bengal has the highest percentage of area under total Mangrove cover followed by Gujarat and Andaman Nicobar Islands.Coverage: According to the India State of Forest Report, 2019, the mangrove cover in India is 4,975 sq km, which is 0.15% of the country’s total geographical area. ![]()
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