Environmental Science

Mangroves are peculiar group of salt tolerant plants having some special ecological adaptations such as viviparous germination, presence of pneumatophores and salt excretory glands which constitute an important biodiversity in the estuarine regions of the world. Mangrove forests help in carbon sequestration and are most productive and biologically important ecosystems of the world because they provide important and unique ecosystem services to human society and coastal and marine systems. They provide nesting and breeding habitat for fish and shellfish, migratory birds, crocodiles and sea turtles. These forests are very useful for reduction of greenhouse effects and reducing the intensity of cyclones and tsunami. These forests also provide food, fodder, timber, medicinal plants which are very useful for maintaining ecological balance in the coastal regions of the world.