Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Andaman Islands were the first site where we installed rod surface elevation tables (rSETs) for the long-term monitoring of sedimentation rates. A total of 17 rSETs were installed in 2022.
As this landscape has been affected by the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake and the resultant 2004 tsunami, it offers an opportunity to study the response of mangrove communities to climate extremes manifested in the form of changed hydrology and tidal characteristics as regional topography has shifted at a significant scale.
Background
Conservation and sustainable management of the blue carbon ecosystems form a significant part of our strategies for mitigating the impacts of climate change. Mangroves are one such socio-ecological system that ensures the sustainability of coastlines and the sustenance of coastal communities in response to changing climate. However, accelerated climate change events (e.g., Sea level rise) present a challenge for natural adaptation processes. A lack of site-specific information and scientific data on these vulnerable zones limits our ability to respond to such challenges and apply appropriate nature-based solutions.
The Sumatra-Andaman earthquake and resultant tsunami in 2004 have altered the topography of the Andaman Islands by causing coastal uplift (~ 135 cm) and subsidence (~ 285 cm), which is akin to a sea level drop/rise. These natural changes in ground elevation offer a unique living laboratory to study the response of mangrove communities and the fate of sequestered carbon to climate extremes manifested in the form of changed hydrology and tidal characteristics.
Study Area – Andaman Islands
Biodiversity
38 true mangrove species belonging to 13 families and 19 genera.
About 6540 species of Fauna including 834 endemics (ZSI, 2010).
More than 2500 floral taxa including 261 endemics (ZSI, 2010).
Socio-Economic Importance
Collective annual economic worth (of services) ~ USD 1.5 million.
Household value from goods and services ~ 1000 USD/yr/family.
Tourism – The Islands attract around 2.2 lakhs visitors annually.
Aim
The project aimed to establish ecological monitoring sites across ANI to help understand the response of mangrove communities to sea-level changes. Information and scientific data generated as part of this exercise will be useful for better and informed management practices for the conservation and sustenance of mangroves.
Activities and Outputs
Field campaigns were conducted during 2021-2024 with the support of the ANI Forest Department. These campaigns aimed to assess the long-term response of mangroves to the sea-level change gradient created by coastal uplift and subsidence along the Andaman Islands.
The total ecosystem carbon stocks of Andaman mangroves were estimated from sites in North, Middle, and South Andaman, representing uplifted, subsided, and unchanged areas, respectively.
17 Rod Surface Elevation Tables (rSETs) were installed to study the sedimentation dynamics across a subsidence-uplift gradient.
20 automated sensors and data loggers (4 for salinity, 12 for water depth, and 4 reference) were deployed at monitoring sites for measuring environmental parameters such as salinity, temperature, and water depth.
Early career researchers were trained in mangrove monitoring techniques, and scientific papers are under preparation.
Three capacity-building workshops on mangrove monitoring and mangrove restoration were conducted for the Andaman and Nicobar Forest Department, with 94 staff members participating.
Way Forward
Project Team
Wildlife Institute of India
Anoop Raj Singh
Thirumurugan V
Mayur Fulmali
Shamna KT
Nehru Prabakaran
CIFOR-ICRAF
Utchimahali M
Samakshi Tiwari
Rupesh Bhomia
Daniel Murdiyarso
International Collaborators-USFS
Richard MacKenzie
Sahadev Sharma
