Mangrove monitoring for climate change mitigation in India
Background
Mangroves are recognized as one of the prominent nature-based solutions to climate change due to their capacity to store more carbon in comparison to other terrestrial forests. But their narrow range of temperature preference limits their distribution mainly to the tropics. Their extent has reduced by around 40 percent due to the diversion of freshwater resources, expanding aquaculture, deforestation, habitat fragmentation and sea level rise. This loss is further exaggerated in the Asia-Pacific due to a greater demand for resources and higher sea level rise of 3.14 mm/yr than the global average (2.5 mm/yr).
CIFOR-ICRAF along with US Forest Service and several other collaborators is setting up long term monitoring plots to study the sedimentation rate, salinity and tidal changes and estimate the above ground and below ground biomass at select sites across India. Monitoring equipment (rSEts and automated sensors) were procured by the funds secured by US Forest Service.
Where we work
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Andaman and Nicobar Islands contain 13% of the country’s mangrove cover (~400 square kilometers). The mangrove forests of the Andamans are known for their rich species diversity and vegetation. The islands were affected by the earthquake and resultant tsunami of 2004, which significantly altered regional topography and disturbed coastal ecosystems on a large scale. -
The Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove ecosystem, represent half of the country’s mangroves and hold UNESCO and Ramsar status, highlighting their importance for conservation. The Sundarbans’ ecosystem services sustain millions of people, and efforts are needed to ensure West Bengal’s coastal resilience and long-term sustainability. -
Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha (BNP) spread across 145 square kilometers, has high mangrove species diversity and is crucial for protection against cyclones and for the conservation of declining species like the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). It offers many other provisioning services and supports a large human population in the surrounding areas. -
Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, the third-largest continuous patch of mangroves (~240 sq km) in India, harbors biodiversity, supports local livelihoods, and provides a substantial proportion of the fish catch from Andhra Pradesh. Parts of the sanctuary have been restored to mangroves from aquaculture ponds.
Publications
News
On-ground monitoring set to shore up mangrove resilience in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary
Livelihoods, climate change and conservation in coastal Andhra Pradesh
Tigers, crocodiles, rising tides: Fieldwork in the largest mangrove forest on Earth
Gathering on-ground data in the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve
Contacts
Rupesh Bhomia
Senior Scientist, Climate Change
CIFOR-ICRAF
Email: R.bhomia@cifor-icraf.org
Shiv Dhyani
Interim Country Director, India
CIFOR-ICRAF
Email: S.dhyani@cifor-icraf.org
Partners
