Mangroves also act as a form of natural coastal defense against storm surges, tsunamis, rising sea l
UNESCO points out mangroves support a rich biodiversity and provide a valuable nursery habitat for fish and crustaceans. Mangroves also act as a form of natural coastal defense against storm surges, tsunamis, rising sea levels and erosion. Their soils are highly effective carbon sinks, sequestering vast amounts of carbon.
MUMBAI, July 25, 2020: Environmentalist Nandakumar Pawar launched India’s first ever online Mangrove Exhibition on the occasion of the UNSECO-driven International Day for The Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.
As UNESCO points out mangroves support a rich biodiversity and provide a valuable nursery habitat for fish and crustaceans. Mangroves also act as a form of natural coastal defense against storm surges, tsunamis, rising sea levels and erosion. Their soils are highly effective carbon sinks, sequestering vast amounts of carbon.
The mangrove ecosystem services are worth US$33-57 thousand (up to Rs 42,83,000) per hectare per year to the national economies of developing countries, according to Global Mangrove Alliance.
Pawar, who also heads Shri Ekvira Aai Pratishtan, expressed the hope that the online exhibition will help spread awareness about the importance of preserving mangroves for coastal areas like Mumbai.
He pointed out that even in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the periodic destruction of mangroves goes on at places such as Kharghar and Ulwe where the sea plants are either being burnt by covering them with dry leaves and hay or just being dug out. The destruction of mangroves for Navi Mumbai International Airport and by SEZ projects in Uran already caused unseasonal floods in February/March 2019. Paddy fields at Khopte in Uran are being inundated by the creek water. There could be many such cases across MMR, he said.
B N Kumar, director of NatConnect Foundation, who also launched the fresh awareness campaign on the strength of his ongoing drive with about 10,000 e-signatures, appreciated the people for their massive response to the campaign and said “this awareness has to grow.”
“We need to keep an eye on the expansion of highways, the construction for projects such as SEZ without environment clearances, the neglect of mangroves while drawing development plans and above all the scant respect for environment on part of the authorities, planning agencies and so-called urban planners.”
