Context

• Mangroves, once primarily valued by local communities for their vital role in providing fishery resources and supporting livelihoods, have steadily ascended to the forefront of global environmental discourse.
• Today, their significance spans disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, carbon sequestration, fisheries enhancement, and the safeguarding of biodiverse shoreline habitats.
• This transformation in perception is the result of a series of scientific recognitions, policy interventions, and the tireless advocacy of pioneers such as M.S. Swaminathan.

Shifting Perspectives: From Margins to Mainstream

• Historically, communities living alongside mangroves understood their importance intimately, relying on these ecosystems for sustenance and income.
• However, broader recognition came only in the late 1980s.
• Landmark initiatives, including the United Nations Development Programme and UNESCO’s 1988 regional mangrove research project, set the stage for an explosion in research and policy focus.
• Crucially, at the 1989 Climate Change and Human Responses conference, M.S. Swaminathan articulated the potential of mangroves to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on coastal societies.
• He highlighted the threats of rising sea levels and cyclones, advocating for immediate, sustainable mangrove management rooted in ecology, economics, and equity.
• His pioneering vision included genetic research aimed at transferring mangrove salinity tolerance traits to crops such as rice.

Key Contributions of Dr Swaminathan

• Institutional Leadership
  • Founding the International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME)in 1990, with Swaminathan as Founding President, provided a vital institutional anchor for global mangrove conservation.
  • He co-authored the Charter for Mangroves, integrated into the World Charter for Nature at the 1992 United Nations Conference, which continues to underpin global mangrove conservation standards.
  • The ISME’s initiatives, such as economic and environmental evaluations, international workshops, restoration manuals, and the influential World Mangrove Atlas, redefined mangroves from marshy wastelands to irreplaceable multi-use ecosystems.
  • The creation of the Global Mangrove database and Information System (GLOMIS), and the establishment of genetic resource centres across Asia and Oceania, have institutionalised mangrove research, conservation, and restoration.
• A Transformative Impact on Indian Policy and Practice
  • India’s mangrove management journey began as early as 1783, but throughout the colonial and early post-independence era, the emphasis was on clear-felling for agriculture and settlement.
  • Restoration attempts by government agencies often failed, and local communities were unfairly blamed for degradation.
  • Under Swaminathan’s guidance, participatory research in the 1990s, particularly with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, revealed that destructive management practices, not community resource use, were to blame for mangrove losses.
  • This led to the development and pilot-testing of the hydro-ecological “fishbone canal” method for restoration in several Indian states.
  • Over time, this approach blossomed into the Joint Mangrove Management programme, which was officially recommended for adoption nationwide in 2000.

Mangroves as Coastal Shields

• The demonstrated ability of mangroves to reduce devastation during major natural disasters, such as the 1999 Odisha super cyclone and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, solidified their value in disaster mitigation.
• These events catalysed large-scale restoration efforts by both central and state governments, affirming mangroves as essential coastal infrastructure.

Measuring Progress: India’s Growing Mangrove Cover

• According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, the nation’s mangrove cover is now 4,991.68km², 0.15% of its land area, up by 16.68km² since 2019.
• This tangible growth reflects the success of sustained, science-based policies and multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Conclusion

• World Mangrove Day (July 26^th) serves as a timely occasion to assess progress.
• The evolution of mangrove conservation from local stewardship to an urgent global mandate underscores the value of visionary leadership, robust science, and participatory management.
• Thanks to champions like M.S. Swaminathan and the dedicated efforts of researchers, policymakers, and local communities, mangroves are now recognized not only as natural resources, but as vital assets in the quest for environmental security and climate resilience.