Not just forest cover, Ahmedabad lost its mangroves too

Gujarat has recorded a 2.98% increase in mangroves, claims the just-released State of Forest Report 2017. The mangroves increased from 1107 sq km to 1140 sq km in the state. Ahmedabad district, however, has seen a decline in the mangrove cover but also saw a slip in forest cover.

Ahmedabad is the only district to see a decline in mangrove cover, which declined from 33 sq km to 32 sq km as compared to 2015. The only positive thing about Ahmedabad is that the level of decline has come down from 3 sq km area in 2015 (compared to 2013) to just 1 sq km area in 2017 (compared to 2015). Most of Ahmedabad’s mangrove coverage falls under the open mangrove category.

The report attributed the rise of 33 sq km mangroves in Gujarat to conservational efforts such as plantation and regeneration, particularly in Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Kutch and Junagadh.

In fact, Gujarat is second only to West Bengal in area sq km under mangrove coverage. Most of Gujarat’s mangroves fall under moderate dense mangrove and open mangrove category. Among the districts, Kutch has the highest sq km area under mangroves at 798 sq km, an increase of 12 sq km compared to 2015.

What is a mangrove?

Mangroves are a diverse group of salt-tolerant plants found in tropical and sub-tropical intertidal regions of the world. Mangroves create a complex ecosystem that provides breeding and nursing for marine species, food, medicine, fuel and building material for local communities. They also play an important role in providing protection against natural calamities.

Source: SFRI 2107