Odisha has recorded the highest increase in the mangrove forest, otherwise described as coastal woodland, in the country in the last three years. As per the latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR), 2021 released on Thursday, the mangrove forest area in Odisha has increased by 8 square kilometers in a three-year period spanning from 2019-2021.
The State’s growth rate is the highest in the country. Odisha was followed by Maharashtra (4 sq km) and Karnataka (3 sq km). The total mangrove cover in the country is 4,992 sq km and there has been an increase of 17 sq Km in mangrove cover as compared to the previous assessment of 2019.
Mangroves are salt-resistant plant communities; these species exhibit a variety of adaptations in morphology, anatomy, and physiology to survive in water-logged soils, high salinity, and frequent cyclonic storms and tidal surges. Mangroves are important refuges of coastal biodiversity and act as bio-shields against extreme climate events.
Mangroves are regarded as natural barriers against the tidal surge and cyclones. Because of its rich mangrove cover, cyclonic storms from time to time have failed to make inroads into the wetland sites.
