23
services offered by mangroves in the western Indian Sundarbans (Table  1.11).
However, the type of ecosystem services varied at 5% level of significance as F obs
(99.49755) > F crit (2.35926).
The central Indian Sundarbans is noted for erosion and hypersaline ambient
environment (due to blockage of fresh water on account of massive siltation.
Tourism is one of the major livelihoods of the local inhabitants. The respondents’
views towards the ecosystem services of mangroves in this sector are presented in
Table 1.12.
The central Indian Sundarbans has a hostile environment compared to western
and eastern Indian Sundarbans. The region is hyper-saline due to complete blockage
of freshwater due to Bidyadhari siltation. Erosion is also witnessed in many islands
of mangrove dominated Indian Sundarbans (Fig. 1.9). The Central Indian Sundarbans
Ecosystem Service
Agriculturist (Respondent Type 4)
SR
% of Vote
ESS4
Protection against storms and wave
actions
8
18.5
148.0
Erosion control
5
11.2
56.0
Nutrient retention
5
14.3
71.5
Heavy metal accumulation
6
16.5
99.0
Sink of GHGs
6
18.3
109.8
Reservoir of biodiversity
3
9.2
27.6
Source of alternative livelihood
2
7.5
15.2
Cultural and religious convergence
1
4.5
4.5
Ecosystem Service
Local inhabitant (Respondent Type 5)
SR
% of Vote
ESS5
Protection against storms and wave
actions
8
21.2
169.6
Erosion control
4
11.3
45.2
Nutrient retention
5
11.9
59.5
Heavy metal accumulation
6
16.2
97.2
Sink of GHGs
7
19.2
134.4
Reservoir of biodiversity
3
10.1
30.3
Source of alternative livelihood
2
7.6
15.2
Cultural and religious convergence
1
2.5
2.5
Table 1.10 (continued)
1 Ecosystem Services of Mangroves: An Overview