Mangroves as Economic and Climate Assets

Amid rising seas and extreme weather, mangroves emerge as vital climate buffers and economic drivers, yet remain undervalued in policy and business strategies.

What are Mangroves?

• Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees and shrubs found in coastal intertidal zones, where freshwater and seawater mix. 
• They grow in tropical and subtropical climates with high rainfall (1,000–3,000 mm) and temperatures between 26–35°C.
• Common Species: Rhizophora species (Red mangrove), Sundari (Heritiera fomes), Avicennia marina (grey mangrove) and Sonneratia apetala (Keora ) are commonly found in India.

Key Roles of Mangroves in India’s Coastal Economy

• Natural Infrastructure: Act as storm barriers, reducing damage to urban coastlines and infrastructure.
• Fisheries Backbone: Serve as nurseries for juvenile fish, sustaining marine biodiversity and coastal livelihoods.
• Blue Carbon Reservoirs: Sequester significant carbon, with Sundarbans alone valued at ₹462 million annually for carbon services.
• Ecosystem Services: Offer billions in avoided damages and services ranging from ₹3,535 million in Pichavaram (Tamil Nadu) to ₹664 billion in the Sundarbans (West Bengal).
• Livelihood Multipliers: Enable aquaculture, eco-tourism, and beekeeping, linking ecological health to income generation.
  

Ways to Enhance the Economic Role of Mangroves

• Harness Technology for Valuing Natural Capital: Use satellite, drone, and AI-based geospatial tools to map mangroves and quantify blue carbon.
  • Integrate economic valuations into policy to prioritize conservation investments.
• Ensure Equitable Benefit Sharing: Recognize and reward traditional knowledge of local communities by guaranteeing social and economic benefits from restoration projects for those dependent on mangrove ecosystems.
• Strengthen Community-Led Stewardship: Promote fisherfolk partnerships to link healthy mangroves with sustainable fish stocks and food security.
  • Adapt Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) and Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) to urban settings for shared ownership.
• Revitalize Urban Mangroves: Address pollution and degradation in cities like Mumbai and Chennai by integrating  mangrove restoration with urban planning to restore biodiversity and socio-cultural linkages.
• Expand Citizen Science and Engagement: Develop mangrove health tools to monitor area, freshwater flows, and biodiversity.
  • Use initiatives like “Mangrove Mitras” to connect citizens with wetlands, enabling collective action and knowledge co-creation.

Conclusion

Mangrove conservation must be a coalition of science, business, and community voices, positioning these ecosystems as economic and climate infrastructure, not just biodiversity reserves.