Mangroves are unique intertidal ecosystems thriving in saline, oxygen-poor, and high-temperature conditions. As per ISFR 2023, India’s total mangrove cover stands at 4,991.68 sq. km, accounting for 0.15% of the country’s area. Major states include West Bengal, Gujarat, and A&N Islands.
Significance of Mangroves:
Biodiversity Hotspots: Provide breeding grounds for fish, birds, and crustaceans. E.g., Sundarbans support Bengal tiger and estuarine crocodiles.
Carbon Sequestration: Mangroves store up to 4x more carbon than terrestrial forests.
Disaster Risk Reduction: Act as natural barriers during cyclones/tsunamis (e.g., Odisha post-1999 Super Cyclone and 2004 tsunami).
Livelihood Source: Support fishing, honey collection, fuelwood, and eco-tourism.
Water Purification: They filter pollutants for which they came to be known as “Kidneys of the Coast.”
Buffer Zone: They act as a buffer between land and sea and play a vital role in climate resilience and sustaining coastal livelihoods.
Role of M.S. Swaminathan in transforming mangrove conservation:
Scientific Advocacy: Until the late 1980s, mangroves were seen as unproductive marshes. Swaminathan challenged this notion by emphasizing the ability of Mangroves in Climate Regulation, Natural Defences, and Livelihood Linkages.
1989: The Turning Point – Tokyo Climate Conference:
At the Tokyo Conference on Climate and Human Response (1989), Swaminathan presented a pathbreaking case for urgent global mangrove conservation, emphasizing:
Urgency of Sea Level Rise: Mangroves, he argued, are natural buffers against saline intrusion and submergence.
Sustainable Use: He called for regulated use of mangrove products without ecosystem degradation.
Genetic Innovation: Proposed biotechnological use of mangrove genes (e.g., salt-tolerance varieties in rice and coastal crops).
Triple-E Principle: Introduced the concept of Ecology, Economics, and Equity as the framework for ecosystem management.
Institutional Building:
(a) International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME) – 1990:
Swaminathan was founding president of ISME (established in Okinawa, Japan).
It became the first global institution focused exclusively on mangrove science, education, and advocacy.
ISME’s initiatives under his leadership:
Manual on Mangrove Restoration
World Mangrove Atlas
(b) GLOMIS (Global Mangrove Database and Information System):
Designed as a centralized database to store data on Mangrove species distribution, Conservation status and Research findings which are used by scientists, planners, and policymakers globally.
(c) Ecosystem Informatics Services (1992):
Developed to monitor mangrove degradation using remote sensing, GIS, and local knowledge.
Pioneered site-specific restoration strategies integrating hydro-ecology.
Mangrove Restoration Leadership in India:
Swaminathan’s model was adopted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in its 2000 Mangrove Management Programme.
Post 1999 Odisha Super Cyclone and 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, his principles were crucial for risk-reduction planning and community-led restoration
Innovative Techniques:
Fishbone Canal Method: Introduced it when traditional plantation models failed due to poor soil hydrology and lack of local knowledge.
This hydro-ecological technique involved:
Digging main channels (spine) with side canals (bones) to restore tidal water flow.
It improved seedling survival and natural regeneration.
Piloted in Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal, it became a model for the Joint Mangrove Management Programme (2000).
Integration with Genetic Conservation and Education:
Mangrove Genetic Resource Centres: Initiated by Swaminathan and MSSRF to preserve genetic diversity, especially of Indo-Malaysian mangrove species, which represent the global center of diversity.
‘Every Child a Scientist’ Programme: Environmental education initiative to promote biodiversity awareness, including mangrove ecosystems, among schoolchildren.
As President of IUCN (1984–90), he insisted on a shift from Eurocentric to Earth-centric conservation ethics, emphasizing:
Equal attention to the poor and hungry as to charismatic species.
Mainstreaming conservation with development agendas.
Biosafety Protocol under CBD:
Advocated globally to protect developing nations from unregulated biotechnology experiments.
Called for stringent safeguards and respect for local ecological contexts.
Conclusion:
M.S. Swaminathan transformed the perception of mangroves from “wastelands” to “environmental wealth.” His efforts transformed mangroves from perceived “wastelands” into mainstream environmental assets of national and global importance.
‘+1’ Value Addition:
Keywords/Phrases:
“Vivipary” & “Prop Roots” – unique traits of mangroves
“You cannot preserve ecosystems if you do not preserve livelihoods” — M.S. Swaminathan.
India’s Mangrove Cover: 4,991.68 sq. km (ISFR 2023)
Net Increase (2021–23): 16.68 sq. km
India’s share in global mangrove cover: 3%
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