Marine Biology (2+1)

Distribution

Mangroves are commonly found throughout the world between latitudes 32°N and 38°S. There is a lack of exact statistics on the global and regional extent of the mangrove area. According to the report of the World Resources Institute, mangroves cover an area of 190,000 to 240,000 km², occupying about one-quarter of the world’s coast line. Mangroves extend over 18 million hectares worldwide, covering a quarter of the world's tropical coastline. Largest mangrove areas occur in Indonesia (30%) followed by Nigeria (10%), Australia (8%) and Mexico (7%). India contributes approximately 3% to the world mangrove area. The mangrove forest cover in India was  reduced from 6000 km² in 1953 to 2000 – 3000 km² in 1989. Mangroves in India are spread over an area of about 4,500 km² (4,44,500 ha. )along the coastal States/UTs of the country. Sunderbans in West Bengal accounts for a little less than half of the total area under mangroves in India. Sunderbans of India and Bangladesh constitutes the top slot among the four single blocks of mangrove forests. The others being Niger Delta, Northern Brazil nd Southern Papua.

Mangrove wetlands of India is *Records of the State Forest Department.