Title: 34_Parisara_Newsletter - Mangroves - the Sentinels of the Sea Shore
Volume Number: 2014
Issue Number: 34
Year of Publication: 2014
Month of Issue: October – December 2014
Published by: EMPRI-Environmental Information System (ENVIS), Bangaluru
Printed Year: 2014
Language: English
Pages: Pp.1-40
Details:
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Newsletter entitled on Mangroves – the Sentinels of the Sea Shore: Save the Saviours: Mangroves are forested wet lands in the tidal zones of equatorial and tropical coasts, constituting a very important component in the forest ecosystem. They are highly productive forest ecosystems which serve as sentinels in the seashores, contributing highly to the ecological and economic security of humankind. Mangroves stand in guard for protecting the costal wealth of the country and safe guarding the interests of millions of poor coastal communities. Mangroves provide a wide range of services and products required for the sustenance of life in the coasts. They act as "coastal stabilizers" and protect the coastal belt from cyclones, tidal waves and erosion. They are habitats for a variety of marine flora and fauna including wildlife. Fuel wood, timber, fodder and a variety of non wood forest produce including medicinal plants, tannins, honey, weaving and thatch grass etc. are some of the important forest products obtained from the mangrove forests. More importantly, the mangroves sustain vast fishery resources that provide livelihood support to about 6 million people in India who are engaged directly or indirectly in fishing, fish processing, marketing and other related activities. Events like tsunami in 2005 has once again prompted us to rethink and act for saving the valuable natural barrier which can protect us from the fury of the sea. We have realized the importance of these precious forests and our mission is to take stock of our efforts in conserving them from anthropogenic pressures and at the same time understanding its rich biodiversity and the environmental services it provides to the humanity.