Mangrove migration

Subject: Environment

Context:

Investigation of Mangroves distribution in the Hooghly estuary suggests that the mangroves have started moving upstream, growing in less-saline regions.

Concept:

• Over the years due to gradual environmental changes and anthropogenic activities, mangroves have started to redistribute.
• Sewage disposal has increased the pollution load in the river waters. Globally, there is also rapid mean sea-level rise. All these might have played a role in this upstream migration
• This shows the potential of Sonneratiacaseolaris to act as a bio-indicator of regional environmental changes.
• The decline in the mangrove area along with this migration may increase the amplitude of coastal hazards such as storm surges, erosion and flooding.