Mangroves in Goa

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 )