Saturday, February 18, 2023

Mangrove boardwalk

A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows in coastal saline or brackish water.

Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees and are adapted to live in harsh coastal conditions. They contain a complex salt filtration system and a complex root system to cope with saltwater immersion and wave action.

A 2022 study on losses and gains of tidal wetlands estimates a 3,700 km2 (1,400 sq mi) net decrease in global mangroves which is worrying hence a Mangrove boardwalk in Karnataka to educate the general public is heartening. There is interest in mangrove restoration for several reasons. Mangroves support sustainable coastal and marine ecosystems. They protect nearby areas from tsunamis and extreme weather events. Mangrove forests are also effective at carbon sequestration and storage and mitigate climate change. As the effects of climate change become more severe, mangrove ecosystems are expected to help local ecosystems adapt and be more resilient to changes like extreme weather and sea level rise.

Unfortunately, mangroves are being destroyed for ‘infrastructure development’. Paved roads and Bullet train tracks will replace the life saving mangroves. It is time we give our ‘infrastructure development‘ a rethink.

The Mangrove boardwalk near Honnavar is interesting but I wish there were more informative boards placed along the walk to educate the layman. It seems to be more of a site for pre wedding shoots now!

4 comments:

  1. Hari OM
    Australia has many mangroves and quite a few with boardwalks like this - indeed I lived quite close to one. They are special places and always worth a visit! I am so glad that there is the initiative in India; it looked like it might be a work in progress, so perhaps those info boards you desired will yet appear! YAM xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. ...mangroves are nature's protection against storms.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mangroves are unique and important shrubs that help to regulate the ecosystem for many marine lives.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Travel really is magic. It's my muse, too. I spend a lot of time near Florida mangroves.

    ReplyDelete