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© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. Mitra, Mangrove Forests in India,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20595-9_3
Chapter 3
Mangroves: A Barrier Against Erosion
Abstract Coastal erosion is a natural process in which rocks, sands and mud particles are dislodged from the shoreline by various eroding agents. Wave actions and
tidal surges are the major eroding agents which erode the beaches and intertidal mudflats. In the mangrove ecosystem the loose mud are highly prone to erosion. The
magnitude of erosion in islands and coastal areas is regulated by the density of vegetation (preferably mangroves and mangrove associate species). In Indian Sundarban
ecosystem, the relative abundance of mangroves greatly influences the process of erosion. It is considerably low, where the density of mangrove is high in terms of population with considerable biomass. The case studies highlighted in this chapter serves as
a road map to evaluate the role of mangroves in controlling erosion.
Keywords Erosion · Mangroves · Indian Sundarban ecosystem · Relative
abundance
Coastal erosion is a natural process in which rocks, sands and mud particles are
dislodged from the shoreline by various eroding agents. Wave actions and tidal
surges are the major eroding agents which erode the beaches and intertidal mudflats. In the process of coastal erosion, land may be permanently and completely
shifted from one region to another. The degree of erosion along a beach is influenced by how hard a wave hits it; the intensity of the wave again depends on tides
and the water density. Coastal erosion usually affects most people that live along
the coastline and also the marine organisms that have their habitats along estuaries,
bays and very shallow parts of the ocean water. In the mangrove ecosystem the
loose mud are highly prone to erosion. The phenomenon is quiet common in
Sundarban mangrove ecosystem at the apex of Bay of Bengal, which is also the
home ground of Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) (Fig. 3.1).
The magnitude of erosion in islands and coastal areas is regulated by the density
of vegetation (preferably mangroves and mangrove associate species). In Indian
Sundarban ecosystem, the relative abundance of mangroves greatly influences the
process of erosion. It is considerably low, where the density of mangrove is high in
terms of population with considerable biomass (Fig. 3.2).
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. Mitra, Mangrove Forests in India,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20595-9_3
Chapter 3
Mangroves: A Barrier Against Erosion
Abstract Coastal erosion is a natural process in which rocks, sands and mud particles are dislodged from the shoreline by various eroding agents. Wave actions and
tidal surges are the major eroding agents which erode the beaches and intertidal mudflats. In the mangrove ecosystem the loose mud are highly prone to erosion. The
magnitude of erosion in islands and coastal areas is regulated by the density of vegetation (preferably mangroves and mangrove associate species). In Indian Sundarban
ecosystem, the relative abundance of mangroves greatly influences the process of erosion. It is considerably low, where the density of mangrove is high in terms of population with considerable biomass. The case studies highlighted in this chapter serves as
a road map to evaluate the role of mangroves in controlling erosion.
Keywords Erosion · Mangroves · Indian Sundarban ecosystem · Relative
abundance
Coastal erosion is a natural process in which rocks, sands and mud particles are
dislodged from the shoreline by various eroding agents. Wave actions and tidal
surges are the major eroding agents which erode the beaches and intertidal mudflats. In the process of coastal erosion, land may be permanently and completely
shifted from one region to another. The degree of erosion along a beach is influenced by how hard a wave hits it; the intensity of the wave again depends on tides
and the water density. Coastal erosion usually affects most people that live along
the coastline and also the marine organisms that have their habitats along estuaries,
bays and very shallow parts of the ocean water. In the mangrove ecosystem the
loose mud are highly prone to erosion. The phenomenon is quiet common in
Sundarban mangrove ecosystem at the apex of Bay of Bengal, which is also the
home ground of Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) (Fig. 3.1).
The magnitude of erosion in islands and coastal areas is regulated by the density
of vegetation (preferably mangroves and mangrove associate species). In Indian
Sundarban ecosystem, the relative abundance of mangroves greatly influences the
process of erosion. It is considerably low, where the density of mangrove is high in
terms of population with considerable biomass (Fig. 3.2).