MANGROVES IN ERNAKULAM DISTRICT

Mangrove Forest

Mangrove ecosystem

Marine (Intertidal zones) Complex and dynamic Highly productive

Mangroves…

Origin of the term..

Definition

Mangroves are trees or shrubs mainly of Angiosperms that have common trait of growing in shallow and muddy salt water or brackish water and exhibit remarkable capacity for salt water tolerance.

Mangue (Portuguese) – A mangrove treeGrove (English) - Community of bushes

14 of the 15 true mangroves of Kerala were identified from the Ernakulam district.

4 (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Savi., Bruguiera sexangula (Lour.) Poir., Shirakiopsis indica (Willd.) Esser and Sonneratia alba J. E. Smith) of them are rare in Kerala coast.

Nypa fruticans Wurmb (Arecaceae) is a true mangrove species planted along the coastal areas of the district.

True mangroves

Bruguiera sexangula (Lour.) Poir.

Bruguiera gymnorhiza ( L.) Lamk.

Sonneratia caseolaris(L.) Engler

Sonneratia alba J. E. Smith

Excoecaria agallocha L.

Aegiceras corniculatus (L.) Blanco

Nypa fruticans Wurmb

Threats…

Wetlands of Ernakulam district is one among the fast depleting wetlands of Kerala

Most of the developmental activities are concentrated in the regions of river, sea etc. which results in the depletion of ecosystems like wetlands and mangroves.

Wastes from hospitals, factories and other industries are leave in the mangrove forest which affect other organisms that live there.

Mangroves lives life in the edge in a way with one foot in the land and the other one in the sea. It is our duty to help them to stay there for a very long time..

Conserve Mangroves

Thanks….