MANGROVES

Mangroves are littoral plants that occur along the inter- tidal regions of tropical and subtropical coasts. Mangroves are able to survive by adapting to the environment through unique characteristics such as stilt roots, viviparous seeds, salt glands, salt-excluding mechanism, thick cuticles (wax coated leaf surfaces), leathery leaves and pneumatophores (roots for breathing). The mangrove ecosystem performs many protective, productive and economic functions. Mangrove forests areas act as a barrier against cyclones and mitigate their effects and thus preventing water entering the mainland. Mangrove wetlands serve as spawning and nursery grounds for many economically important estuarine/marine fishes and shellfishes apart from harbouring many resident and migratory birds.

Corina Mangroves in East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India

In east Godavari district mangroves are located in the Godavari estuary. The northern side of the Godavari River is the Coringa Wildlife sanctuary and the southern side has six reserve forests under mangroves. They are Rathikalava, Masanitippa, Matlatippa, Balusutippa, Kothapalem and Kandikuppa.

The vegetation is fairly dense in Kothapalem RF. Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea, a rare and endemic species, is present in this RF. Excoecaria agallocha, Lumnitzera racemosa, Rhizophora apiculata, R. mucronata, Xylocarpus moluccensis, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Avicennia marina and A.officinalis are also available. Climbers such as Derris trifoliata and Sarcolobus carinatus, shrubs like Dalbergia spinosa, Clerodendrum inerme and herbs such as Suaeda and SalicorniaI are also available.