Godavari–Krishna mangroves
Godavari–Krishna mangroves | |
---|---|
Ecology | |
Biome | Mangrove |
Geography | |
Area | 7,000 km2 (2,700 sq mi) |
Country | India |
The Godavari–Krishna mangroves are a mangrove ecoregion of India's eastern coast.
Location and description
The ecoregion covers an area of 7,000 square kilometers (2,700 sq mi), in discontinuous enclaves extending from the state of Odisha in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south. The largest mangrove community in the ecoregion lies in the delta of the Godavari and Krishna rivers in Andhra Pradesh; other mangrove communities can be found at Point Calimere in Tamil Nadu, Pulicat Lake in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, the Bhitarkanika Mangroves and Chilika Lake in Odisha, and the Pichavaram mangroves in Tamil Nadu. [1]
Flora
The predominant mangroves are all of the species include Avicennia marina, Suaeda spp., Rhizophora spp., and Bruguiera spp. These have a thick canopy and an undergrowth of climbing plants and shrubs.
Fauna
Mangroves are an important coastal habitat for much wildlife such as the
Threats and preservation
Mangroves are vulnerable to coastal development including prawn farming, other agriculture that diverts fresh water from reaching the coast and seaside urbanisation. Most mangroves on the east coast of India have been cleared and while 14% of the ecoregion is under protection in Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary and the Bhitarkanika National Park even those areas are not secure.
References
- World Wildlife Fund.