590
wildlife sanctuary covers mangroves of east Godavari district, Coringa reserved forest, Coring RF extension and Bhairavpalem RF. Avicennia Alba and Sonneratia are
the major types of mangrove that exists and forms large colonies. Avicennia officinalis are also found in many landward side areas.
Pichavaram mangrove block is located between Vellar and Coleroon estuaries.
Avicennia and Rizophora are distinctly separable in Pichavaram. The Rizophora is
found along the fringes of tidal creeks and channels, whereas Avicennia is found
more seaward side which are more saline. Muthupet is at the southern most end of
Cauveri delta. Various tributaries of Cauveri flow through Muthupet and nearby villages. Muthupet mangroves are of Avicennia, mainly Avicennia marina and A. Suaeda.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India accounts for about 13% of the total mangrove forest area of India (FSI 2013). Mangroves of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
are recognized as the best in the country in terms of density (about 76.5%) and
growth (Dageretal 1991). Recently, 25 true mangrove species, distributed among 10
families and 14 genera, have been recorded in Andaman and Nicobar as compared
to the earlier reported number of species, ranging from 17 to 36 (Gautham-Bharati
et al. 2014; Dam Roy et al. 2009).
Vembanad in Kerala state (West coast) has mangrove forest comprising of mainly
Excoecaria and Rizophora. Coondapur in Karnataka state has Rizophoraas major
species along the river having moderate salinity. Dominant mangrove species in
Goa are the Avicennia, Excoecaria, Rizophora and Sonneratia. In the state of
Mahrastra, major mangrove patches are found around Mumbai, Raigad and Thane.
Mangrove along the Manori and Malad, Vashi in new Mumbai are mainly Avicennia
marina and Avicennia Alba. Mangroves around Thane creek are in good condition
however they are under anthropogenic pressure.
The largest mangrove formation in the west coast is found on the Gujarat coast,
mainly confined to south Gujarat, Gulf of Kachchh and Kori creek (Indus deltaic
region). As this area is not easily accessible, the mangrove condition in this area is
very good. In this region, apart from few patches of Rizophora and Sonneratia, the
dominant species is the Avicennia (Singh 2000).
Furthermore, within the sheltered habitats, the species form distinct communities
due to their strong dependence on specific environmental gradients like temperature, tidal frequency, sedimentation processes, freshwater availability, wave and
storm surges, and physico-chemical soil properties. The distinct zonation pattern, in
which each zone comprising of one or two dominant species or an assemblage of a
particular group of species is clearly noticeable within short transects from the coast
towards the landward side.
19.5.1.2 Community Level Mapping for India
Mangrove community level mapping for the entire Indian coast has been carried
using Resourcesat-1 LISS-III/LISS-IV data on 1:25,000 scale. The methodology, as
discussed earlier, has been applied to classify and map the mangrove communities
for all the maritime states and union territories of India harbouring mangroves,
Ajai and H.B. Chauhan
wildlife sanctuary covers mangroves of east Godavari district, Coringa reserved forest, Coring RF extension and Bhairavpalem RF. Avicennia Alba and Sonneratia are
the major types of mangrove that exists and forms large colonies. Avicennia officinalis are also found in many landward side areas.
Pichavaram mangrove block is located between Vellar and Coleroon estuaries.
Avicennia and Rizophora are distinctly separable in Pichavaram. The Rizophora is
found along the fringes of tidal creeks and channels, whereas Avicennia is found
more seaward side which are more saline. Muthupet is at the southern most end of
Cauveri delta. Various tributaries of Cauveri flow through Muthupet and nearby villages. Muthupet mangroves are of Avicennia, mainly Avicennia marina and A. Suaeda.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India accounts for about 13% of the total mangrove forest area of India (FSI 2013). Mangroves of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
are recognized as the best in the country in terms of density (about 76.5%) and
growth (Dageretal 1991). Recently, 25 true mangrove species, distributed among 10
families and 14 genera, have been recorded in Andaman and Nicobar as compared
to the earlier reported number of species, ranging from 17 to 36 (Gautham-Bharati
et al. 2014; Dam Roy et al. 2009).
Vembanad in Kerala state (West coast) has mangrove forest comprising of mainly
Excoecaria and Rizophora. Coondapur in Karnataka state has Rizophoraas major
species along the river having moderate salinity. Dominant mangrove species in
Goa are the Avicennia, Excoecaria, Rizophora and Sonneratia. In the state of
Mahrastra, major mangrove patches are found around Mumbai, Raigad and Thane.
Mangrove along the Manori and Malad, Vashi in new Mumbai are mainly Avicennia
marina and Avicennia Alba. Mangroves around Thane creek are in good condition
however they are under anthropogenic pressure.
The largest mangrove formation in the west coast is found on the Gujarat coast,
mainly confined to south Gujarat, Gulf of Kachchh and Kori creek (Indus deltaic
region). As this area is not easily accessible, the mangrove condition in this area is
very good. In this region, apart from few patches of Rizophora and Sonneratia, the
dominant species is the Avicennia (Singh 2000).
Furthermore, within the sheltered habitats, the species form distinct communities
due to their strong dependence on specific environmental gradients like temperature, tidal frequency, sedimentation processes, freshwater availability, wave and
storm surges, and physico-chemical soil properties. The distinct zonation pattern, in
which each zone comprising of one or two dominant species or an assemblage of a
particular group of species is clearly noticeable within short transects from the coast
towards the landward side.
19.5.1.2 Community Level Mapping for India
Mangrove community level mapping for the entire Indian coast has been carried
using Resourcesat-1 LISS-III/LISS-IV data on 1:25,000 scale. The methodology, as
discussed earlier, has been applied to classify and map the mangrove communities
for all the maritime states and union territories of India harbouring mangroves,
Ajai and H.B. Chauhan