Socioeconomic significance of mangroves for coastal people of India: A changing scenario
Abstract
The importance of mangrove ecosystems with particular reference to the coastal population of India has been realised recently. Natural calamities like cyclones, floods, famine, siltation and erosion are directly related to the mangrove formations and their use along the Indian coast. Major deltas like Gangetic Sunderbans, Mahanadi, Krishna, Kaveri, Pichhavaram and Muthupet along the east coast of India show the excellent growth of mangroves. The coastal population depend on mangrove-related resources for their socioeconomic needs such as fuel and fisheries, as well as for other by-products like honey, timber, tannin, coal, fruits, etc. Under extreme climatological conditions in the Gulf of Kachch, mangroves are considered very important. Recently, other aspects like Mangrove Protected Areas (MPA), ecotourism, aquaculture and agriculture have shown great significance. Although the economic grains for coastal people have increased through these activities, the mangrove ecosystem itself has become endangered in certain areas
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