Losses of mangroves also release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, arising from destruction of their biomass and the release of the large carbon stocks held in their soils. This affects all of us on the planet as it contributes to global warming, further accelerating global climatic change.
Considering this, how do mangroves benefit humans?
Mangroves provide essential habitat for thousands of species. They also stabilize shorelines, preventing erosion and protecting the land — and the people who live there — from waves and storms.
Keeping this in consideration, what are mangroves in Mumbai?
Mangroves are coastal forests situated between the ocean and land, made up of shrubs or small trees, which grow in coastal saline or brackish water. The mangroves by the Kasadi river are a microcosm of what has long been transpiring in the once rich expanse of Mumbai’s coastal forests.
Why are mangroves being destroyed?
Agriculture. Many thousands of acres of mangrove forest have been destroyed to make way for rice paddies, rubber trees, palm oil plantations, and other forms of agriculture. Farmers often use fertilizers and chemicals, and runoff containing these pollutants makes its way into water supplies.
Why do we need mangroves in Mumbai?
Mangroves provide a vast array of essential ecosystem services — they are essential for flood protection and water quality maintenance, they serve as nursery habitats to countless species, and they help sustain our fisheries.