Will Kerala be devoid of its remaining mangrove vegetation that has been guarding the coast from the fury of nature besides delivering a host of ecosystem services?
The question reverberates in the minds of specialists in coastal ecology as well as conservationists even as the State government has approved a set of recommendations from a panel, which if implemented, would have a bearing on the mangrove ecosystem.
The mangrove vegetation that had once extensively lined the coastal belt of the State had provided the breeding ground for a large number of species of fish and shrimps. They have also been rendering the ecosystem a service by shielding the coastline from surges and waves, binding the coastal soil layers, and preventing soil erosion and withstanding floods. They also sequester carbon and thus play an important role in combating climate change.
