Mangroves of Orissa and aspects of their conservation

Abstract

Orissa had a rich mangrove forest in the remote past. However, as in other states of India, this has been devastated largely due to biotic interference. Naturally, there is a considerable amount of shrinkage in the mangrove vegetation of Orissa due to habitat destruction especially at Paradeep-Hukitola, Devi, Jambu estuaries etc. The mangrove forests at these places have degraded to scrub jungle and at places they have totally disappeared. In constrast to these regions, Bhitarkanika sustains luxuriant mangroves. This is due to adequate protection given to this plant community since this terrain has been declared as a sanctuary in 1975. General information about mangroves and their distributional pattern have been highlighted. Conservation of some taxa whose population exhibit considerable degree of shrinkage has also been suggested.