Useful mangorves

Indira Hiriway of the Centre for Development Alternatives in Ahmedabad has recently produced a working paper on the valuation of mangroves in Gujarat. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the uses and potential of mangroves, their value and the cost of their replacement. She explains they have importance at the local, national and global level.

Local: Households in coastal areas use mangroves as fuel wood (charcoal can also be made) and to construct houses and boats. The seeds are edible; the plant is used to treat chicken pox and is also a highly nutritious source of fodder for animals. Abundance of food such as fish and crabs can be found in what is described as the most productive ecosystem in the world.

National: Mangroves provide breeding and nursery grounds for juvenile fish, prawn, crabs and other marine organisms and are critical for a successful fishing industry.They prevent the ingress of saline water into agricultural land and so support farmer's livelihoods. They also act as bio-shields for coastal people, breaking the strength of waves, stabilising sediments, reducing erosion and regulating flooding.

Global: By sequestering carbon from the atmosphere, mangrove forests can help to stabilise climate and capture valuable foreign exchange through initiatives such as the clean development mechanism instituted under the Kyoto Protocol. Investigations have also found the plant could be useful in developing antiviral drugs for treating AIDS and as a source of bacterial bio-fertiliser. Mangroves are also crucial for the global fishing industry, providing about 1.1 per cent of the world's fishery catch.