Tamil Nadu state is more vulnerable to super cyclones and Tsunamis - Huge role played by Mangroves etc!!
Posted on: 12/Oct/2022 9:33:18 AM
The importance of mangroves have been brought to light now by many conservationists and forest department officers etc!!
It is true that these persons want long term study on the TN mangroves and this is because the state is more vulnerable to climate changing actions like super cyclones and Tsunamis etc. Impact of the cyclonic activities would be protected by mangrove as they would serve as a natural barrier. In addition, the mangroves would also play a huge role in addressing the nutrient value in the food chain.
It was explained by a senior official belonging to the forest department during Gaja cyclone in TN impact was felt in Kodaikanal (Nagapattinam) and in Kodaikanal( Dindigul) forest areas.Truth is that the Muthupet lagoon with Mangrove forest acted as a bio-shield and it protected the fishing hamlets.
One of the major flood prone districts in TN is Cuddalore and here the Pichavaram mangrove protects a few fishing hamlets from the impact caused by storms and floods etc. Not enough funds and research projects are allotted for their conservation.
Founder of The Nature Trust, Mr. KVRK. Tirunarayananspoke about how more than 100 species belonging to the marine kingdom and 60 species of migratory and terrestrial birds etc thrive in the mangrove habitat as they are ideal for them. For the rare varieties of crabs and prawns etc ,the mangroves also serve as a breeding ground.
He added that during the 2004 Tsunami when compared to the fishing hamlets located close to the seashores, those hamlets surrounded by mangroves were least affected. A long term conservation project for mangroves is the need of the hour as climatic changes, cyclones, industries and pollution etc also pose a huge threat to the mangroves.
Mr. A. Kumaraguru, conservation scientist, Biodiversity Conservation Foundation in Trichy was of the view that mangroves play their part in the human food chain. He threw light on how the marine protein from mangroves would serve as the cheap food source for the public. Information is that mangroves are salt tolerant plants in the tropical countries and they play a huge role in fighting climatic changes.
He concluded that the mangroves were highly sensitive and fragile plants and they would get eroded due to pollution. Hence, the mangroves required scientific monitoring and research projects. It was later mentioned by some forest department sources that TN doesn`t have very dense mangroves but just moderately dense and open mangroves only.
