Mangroves ? in India have been subject to a wide variety of threats. And Goa is not an exception to it !!
The unregulated urban development, increased pollution, altered distribution and with increased tourism, has resulted in the most destructive impact on mangrove forests.
Goa has witnessed a sharp decline of mangrove area over the last three decades- from 20,000 hectares in 1987 to 2,200 hectares in 2015. Mangroves are very specialized forest ecosystems of tropical and subtropical regions bordering the sheltered sea coasts and estuaries.
These stabilize the shoreline and act as barriers against encroachment by the Sea. Salt tolerant inter-tidal halophytic plants dominate the mangrove forests.
Mangroves are confined mainly to the narrow intertidal mudflats along the banks of Mandovi, Zuari, Chapora, Sal, Tiracol, Talpona, Galjibag and Cumbhajua canal.
? Data source : Mangrove Society Of Goa , Herald Newspaper ( dated 2015-05-16 )