Securing coastal communities’ livelihoods through mangrove conservation

Despite their immense ecological contributions, mangroves face significant threats.

By Tejashree Joshi 

Mangroves, the intertidal forests that thrive along tropical coastlines, are popularly known as the first line of defence against cyclones and coastal storms. The role of their unique root structures and thick canopies is well established in maintaining the integrity of the shores and dissipating high winds and strong waves. They are widely recognised as blue carbon sinks for their ability to sequester carbon from the air. However, these ecosystems are also economic engines that create opportunities and support livelihoods for coastal communities.

Economic Benefits of Mangroves

The direct economic benefits of mangroves are substantial and diverse. One of the most significant is their role in supporting fisheries. Mangroves serve as nurseries for several species of fish and shellfish, mangroves play an integral role in the food security of these communities. Every hectare of mangroves contributes to 23% of India’s total marine catch, amounting to approximately $68 billion (Anneboina, L. R. & Kavi Kumar, K. S.).

Forestry products from mangroves also contribute significantly to local economies. Mangrove wood is used for construction, building boats, and as fuelwood. Non-timber forest products such as honey, wax, and tannins provide additional income streams. For example, honey collection from mangrove forests is a traditional and lucrative occupation in the Sundarbans.

Indirectly, mangroves generate economic benefits through coastal protection. By reducing the impact of storms and preventing erosion, they save billions in potential damage to property and infrastructure. A study by Das and Vincent (2009) in Odisha found that villages with wider mangrove belts experienced significantly fewer deaths during cyclones.

Ecotourism in mangrove areas is an emerging sector with considerable potential. With their rich flora and fauna, these forests are excellent spots for birdwatching, boat tours, and educational visits.

Causes for Depletion

Despite their immense ecological contributions, mangroves face significant threats. Over the past century, India has lost 40% of its mangrove cover due to urban development, aquaculture, and other human activities. While rising sea levels can potentially submerge mangroves, increasing salinity of water can make the survival of these hardy species difficult.

There is also the issue of hard settlements around mangrove forests. Being resilient, mangroves tend to grow again after they have been destroyed by storms. However, they need space to shift to surrounding areas – with permanent settlements around them, they cannot find the room to grow again, and eventually wither away.

Several mangroves fall victim to development projects. The forests are often cut for building and construction purposes. Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai is a notable example. Further, land grabbers dump construction & demolition debris in these forests, and in the garb of dumping waste, illegally claim the land as theirs.

The deforestation of mangroves has grave consequences for communities that rely on them for their livelihoods. For example, the Koli fishing community has depended for ages on mangroves for their catch. However, with the disappearance of mangrove forests, the population of fish has also declined and eroded the Kolis' primary source of income. This is due to the loss of crucial breeding and nursery grounds that mangroves provide for various fish species, disrupting their lifecycle and further diminishing available catch. Moreover, the destruction of these natural barriers has left Koli settlements more vulnerable to flooding during monsoons and high tides, putting their homes and livelihoods at greater risk.

Aligning Mangrove Conservation with Livelihoods

Integrating mangroves into national economic and environmental policies is crucial. The Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) scheme by the Indian government aims to conserve these ecosystems while leveraging them to provide livelihoods. The scheme aims to restore mangrove cover across India over the next five years. Starting from fiscal year 2024, it will develop approximately 540 square kilometres of mangrove area across 11 states and two union territories.

Community-based mangrove management programs have shown promise in balancing conservation with economic use. In coastal Maharashtra, a women-led self-help group (SHG), Swamini has successfully combined mangrove conservation with livelihood generation through an innovative mangrove safari program. Supported by the Maharashtra Forest Department and a UNDP-GEF project, the ten-woman group learned boat handling and mangrove identification. Their ecotourism initiative now serves as a model for community-led conservation, generating income while educating tourists and locals about mangrove ecosystems.

As we face the dual challenges of climate change and economic development, sustainable management of mangroves offers a path to resilience and prosperity for coastal communities. Protecting and restoring these vital ecosystems is not just an environmental imperative, but an economic one as well.

The author is Head (Environment & Sustainability), Godrej & Boyce.

Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.