The silent sentinels


Six years back, on 26th day of Dec 2004, when the giant tsunami waves struck A&N Islands, there was absolute mayhem.  Everybody ran uphill to protect themselves, yet those nearest to the sea, stood firm and bore the burnt of natures fury silently, for they bear on their back the responsibility of protecting our coasts and they did it with firm determination. Who are they? They are the Mangroves; the silent sentinels of our coasts.

Debkumar Bhadra | Musings of an Islander

Mangroves are a group of salt tolerant tree species that grows in the saline marshy areas between the shore and the sea in tropical and sub tropical latitudes. They are found in the inter-tidal zones along the coasts, bays, estuaries, lagoons, creeks and backwaters which are exposed during low tide and flooded by sea during high tide everyday.

Globally there are nearly 70 species of true mangroves found dominating three quarters of the tropical coastline. Indonesia has the largest area under mangroves (37% of global average) followed by Brazil and Australia. India being in the tropical and sub-tropical latitudes, harbour 47 species of true mangroves spread over an area of 6749 sqKm (7% of global average) of which Baitarkanika (Orissa) has 31 species, the Sunderbans (West Bengal) with 2000 sqKm has 40 species. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands with 1190 sqKm under mangrove swamps has 34 specie.

More than individual trees, mangroves form a characteristic saline woodland or shrubland habitat called a mangrove swamp, mangrove forest or simply mangal. Their unique root system besides providing support and obtaining nutrition from the soil, also helps in oxygen intake from the air through lenticles and pneumatophores seen projecting out of the mud, like fingers in great numbers around mangrove swamps. Further the branched network of prop-roots act as barrier against wave action besides slowing down the flow of water preventing erosion and enhancing sediment deposition. Their role as a shield against tropical winds, storms, cyclones and tsunamis, especially in reducing the loss to life and property are universally known.

Mangrove are also home and breeding ground for a great variety of fishes, reptiles, crabs, sea snail, shell fishes, algae, sea turtles, birds, butterflies, insects etc. Salt water crocodile found in mangrove swamps are the largest among the crocodiles. The largest population of wild tiger “The Royal Bengal Tiger” lives in the mangroves of Sunderbans. “Atlas moth” found in mangroves are the largest among moths. “The crab eating Macaque” endemic to these islands has adapted to eating crabs and living in mangroves. There are also a lot of other species which directly or indirectly dependent on mangrove ecosystem for one or the other survival needs.

Humans has been exploiting mangroves as fuel wood, for fisheries and allied activities. There have been instances when large mangrove area has been cleared to create artificial ponds for shrimp farming. Pollution, Oil spills is also a major threat to mangroves. The 2004 Great Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake triggered tsunami had caused large scale damage to large tracts of mangroves in these Islands, specially in the South Andamans

Efforts are being made by Department of Environment and Forests, A&N Administration and several R&D organisations, NGO’s and environmentalists to save mangroves from further damage. Various methods are being adopted to regenerate and to bring back the ecosystem to life. Scientists at M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) have isolated salt-tolerant genes from common mangrove species Avicennia mariana and have been successful in transferring them to crops like rice, mustard and black gram under field trials. In the backdrop of climate change and dwindling natural resources, mangroves could come handy for meeting the future demands of human race. We being intricately related to the unique ecosystem, it becomes imperative for us to understand the importance and appreciate the role mangroves are playing in sustaining our life in these islands. Hats off to those silent sentinels!

Note : The article has been written jointly with Dr Grinson George, Honorary Project Coordinator, CPREC, Port Blair 
 References
 - MFF, India 2010. Mangroves: Soldiers of our Coasts, New Delhi, TERI
- Wikipedia, the online free encyclopedia
Acknowledgement : Mr P Rajan, SRF, SACON
Originally published in Andaman Sheekha, dated 25/01/2011

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rising Ferry Fares in Andaman: 10-Year Analysis of Policy Failures and Impact

Image
A Decade of Rising Ferry Fares, Declining Services : Andaman & Nicobar’s Not-So-Funny April 1 Ritual By Debkumar Bhadra Every year on the  1st of April , the world observes April Fool’s Day—a day associated with harmless pranks and laughter. But for commuters in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the date over the past decade has evoked anxiety rather than amusement. This is because ferry fares unfailingly rise on this day, affecting local economy and the cost of living. This article examines the pattern of fare revision during the past 10 years, including administrative policy framework and the systemic inefficiencies, unravelling the gap between approved norms and actual implementation. The irony is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. When fare revision takes effect unfailingly on a date globally associated with playful deception, it raises an uncomfortable question. Is the timing chosen a mere coincidence or a carefully chosen date? A closer look reveals not just the ...
Read more

Transition in A&N Island’s Higher Education Framework Pushes Students into Academic Uncertainty

Image
By Debkumar Bhadra The decision to establish the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Institute of Higher Learning (NSCBIHL) as a deemed-to-be university marks a defining moment for higher education in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. For decades, the islands have aspired to build a locally administered university ecosystem. In principle, the creation of a university within the islands is a welcome and long-awaited step toward academic autonomy and regional development. However, the manner and timing of its implementation have pushed the island's students into academic uncertainty that merits thoughtful consideration rather than outright dismissal. The transformation from affiliation under Pondicherry University (a Central University) to a newly constituted Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Institute of Higher Learning (NSCBIHL), a deemed-to-be university represents a fundamental shift in the island's academic landscape. Establishing a university from scratch is not merely a matter of no...
Read more

Beyond the Deemed-to-be-University Debate, a Democratic Milestone for the A&N Islands

Image
What began as a demand for a Central University has transformed into a democratic awakening among students By Debkumar Bhadra The recent developments concerning higher education in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands may ultimately be remembered not merely as an institutional transition but as a defining moment in the democratic evolution of the islands themselves. The islands being a UT without legislation, have over the years functioned under a governance structure driven by bureaucratic decision-making headed by the Lt Governor. In such a framework, policy decisions emerge from administrative corridors with limited-to-no consultation with islanders, their elected representatives, including their lone Member of Parliament. This has created a perception that decisions affecting the lives and future of islanders are taken without adequate stakeholder engagement. The latest and most consequential of such decisions has been the establishment of the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose I...
Read more