The Hindu Editorial Analysis
2 August 2025
The fact is mangroves drive business
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)
Topic : GS 2: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Context
Mangroves and other blue carbon ecosystems are seldom reflected in official budgets or policymaking, despite their immense value.
Introduction
Despite their crucial role in supporting coastal economies and shielding millions from climate extremes, mangroves have long remained peripheral in planning and policy decisions. Their decline is more than an environmental issue—it represents the degradation of vital natural infrastructure that protects urban coastlines, sustains fisheries, and provides billions worth of ecosystem services and avoided climate-related damages.
- In an era of escalating extreme weather and rising seas, blue carbon ecosystems like mangroves are indispensable for both climate stability and economic resilience.
- Yet, they remain largely absent from financial models and policy agendas. How can we rethink these ecosystems as engines of sustainable development and security?
- The Mangrove Coalition’s three strategic pillars offer a roadmap for transformative action.
Mapping with technology
- Advanced technologies like satellite imagery, drone mapping, and geospatial AI algorithms are transforming how we measure and monitor mangrove ecosystems.
- These tools enable precise mapping and accurate blue carbon quantification, essential for effective policy formulation and restoration strategies.
- Valuation of mangrove ecosystem services reveals their immense worth:
- ₹3,535 million in Pichavaram, Tamil Nadu
- ₹664 billion in the Sundarbans, West Bengal
- Carbon sequestration alone contributes approximately ₹462 million annually in the Sundarbans.
- These figures underscore mangroves’ dual ecological and economic significance.
- Local communities with traditional knowledge and livelihood dependence on mangroves must be prioritised and included in benefit-sharing, ensuring social and economic equity.
Involving communities
- Community-led conservation fosters mutual respect between people and nature, strengthening long-term stewardship.
- Fisherfolk recognise mangroves as nurseries for juvenile fish, directly linking healthy ecosystems to sustainable fisheries.
- The livelihoods of coastal communities are deeply connected to the health of mangrove and estuarine ecosystems.
- In urban areas like Mumbai and Chennai, mangroves suffer from pollution and degradation, leading to reduced biodiversity and weakened community resilience.
- When communities experience tangible benefits—such as more fish, cleaner air, and protection from storms—they are more motivated to act as long-term custodians.
- Mangroves support alternative livelihoods like aquaculture, beekeeping, and eco-tourism, diversifying income sources.
- Participatory models such as Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) and Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) can be adapted for urban mangrove management, promoting inclusive ownership and accountability.
Mobilising Citizen Science for Collective Ecosystem Stewardship
- Citizen science engages the public in monitoring, understanding, and valuing mangrove ecosystems, sparking both awareness and action.
- Training diverse community members to observe and document ecological changes can supplement or substituteformal monitoring systems.
- Mangrove health is linked to broader wetland and river systems—including freshwater flow, sediment transport, and biodiversity.
- Regular community-led monitoring offers early insights into ecosystem trends, helping guide timely conservation interventions.
- Empowering citizens creates a culture of shared responsibility and enhances the visibility of mangroves as vital to climate resilience and community well-being.
Platforms can play a pivotal role
- A comprehensive mangrove health tool should track multiple ecological and social indicators, including:
- Changes in mangrove area and coverage
- Quantity, quality, and seasonal timing of freshwater flows
- Biodiversity metrics: avian, floral, molluscan, and fish populations
- Community dependence on mangroves for livelihoods and well-being
- Perception of ecosystem services such as storm protection, air purification, and income generation
- These multi-dimensional assessments can offer critical insights to guide informed conservation and management decisions.
- Community engagement platforms like “Mangrove Mitras” (Friends of Mangroves) can:
- Foster participation among urban residents and local communities
- Create awareness through hands-on experiences
- Help restore the human-nature connection, linking people, wetlands, rivers, and mangroves
- Promote a deeper appreciation for the ecological, economic, and cultural value of mangroves
Conclusion
Sustainable stewardship isn’t a top-down directive, but a collaborative partnership where the health of mangroves and the well-being of communities go hand in hand. Policymakers and businesses must view mangroves not just as biodiversity reserves, but as essential assets for climate resilience and economic stability. Their protection requires a united front—where science, industry, and local communities contribute their distinct strengths to ensure long-term conservation.