Science-based and community-centred approach to restore and sustain mangrove wetlands of India

Mangroves of India remained degraded for many decades, and attempts to restore them yielded no appreciable results. Systematic studies revealed for the first time that changes in the biophysical condition due to past unscientific management practices are the real causes of mangrove degradation rather than utilization of mangrove resources by the local communities. Based on this finding, a simple and cost-effective method that improves the soil and hydrological conditions of the degraded areas to support the growth of mangroves has been developed and demonstrated. For upscaling, a community-centred joint mangrove management approach was developed and piloted in major mangroves along the east coast of India. Replication of this approach by government agencies resulted in a large-scale increase in Indian mangrove forest cover. Present issues relating to the participatory management of mangroves are also discussed in this article.