Mangroves Mangroves are the only woody plants , growing in the - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Mangroves

Mangroves are the only woody plants , growing in the interface between land and sea in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

The mangroves and their associated organisms constitute the “ Mangrove forest community ” or “ Mangal ”.

The mangrove forests are often called as “ tidal forests ”, “ Coastal woodlands ” or “ Oceanic rainforests ”

• Mangrove forests are among the world’s most productive ecosystems on the earth. • The mangroves have diversified habitats which support a wide variety of organisms.

Table: Areal coverage of mangrove forests (FAO, 2007) Region Per cent Asia 38.5 Africa 20.6 North & Central 15.0 America South America 13.0 Oceania 12.9

Types of Functional Mangrove Forests: 1. Fringe 2. Riverine 3. Basin 4. Overwash 5. Scrub (dwarf) 6. Hammock

Mangroves: Ecological factors ➢ Tidal action ➢ Temperature ➢ Salinity ➢ Rainfall and supply of freshwater ➢ Nutrients( N & P)

Mangrove ecological functions ➢ Improving coastal water quality ➢ Controlling the flood ➢ Mitigating the fury of cyclones ➢ Mitigating the fury of giant waves ➢ Prevention of the coastal erosion ➢ Supporting the fishes and wildlife population

Mangrove conservation ➢ International level ➢ Ramsar convention ➢ Marine Protected Areas (MPA) ➢ National Level Limitations of Management