Alarming decline in mangrove forests amid Vizag’s growth

Visakhapatnam: Rapid urbanisation and developmental push in the City of Destiny have significantly reduced its vital mangrove forests.

These sprawling ecosystems along the coastline have by now dwindled to just a few small patches. Environmentalists say this decline threatens coastal protection and biodiversity. Mangroves are crucial in shielding the shorelines from erosion and providing habitats for numerous bird species.

Vivek N Rathod, founder of Wildlife Conservation Through Research and Education (WCTRE), has explained the alarming decrease in mangrove and halophyte species over the years. He noted that six patches of mangroves and seven patches of halophytes were identified in 1989. By 2008, the number of halophyte patches had reduced to four, while the mangrove patches remained at six.

By 2023, there were only three mangrove patches, while the number of halophyte patches rose to seven.

Rathore told Deccan Chronicle: "By mid-November, the city welcomes migratory birds. This year, we did not observe any."

He noted that the mangrove areas host various bird species. In the past, 66 species were found at the mouth of the Gosthani River, 93 species at another location along the same river, 159 species downstream at Meghadri Gedda, and 90 species at a nearby water body.

Additionally, Vizag Airport had 88 species, while the mangroves near the Visakhapatnam Port Trust used to house 99 species. Sadly, these numbers are now a part of history.

The Meghadri Gedda, a natural waterway that flows into the Bay of Bengal near Visakhapatnam Harbour, was once home to a flourishing mangrove forest. This lush mangrove area has been significantly reduced from the Naval Dockyard to the Meghadri Gedda reservoir near the Visakhapatnam International Airport. It faces threats from construction debris and other encroachments.

In 2016, MT Krishna Babu, the chairperson of the Visakhapatnam Port Trust, announced an initiative to restore the mangroves over a 50-acre area. Despite seeking expert assistance for this critical project, the progress was minimal.

The mangrove ecosystem near the Gosthani river mouth in Bheemili has shrunk to approximately 150 to 200 individual plants. A 2023 study by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education-Coastal Ecosystem Centre (ICFRE-CEC) identified around 220 hectares of mangrove patches within the Visakhapatnam district. These mangrove areas were not included in the Forest Survey of India's biennial mapping and monitoring report.

B Srinivas, a scientist from ICFRE, told Deccan Chronicle, “There is potential to create mangrove patches in about 40 hectares where the Gosthani river meets the ocean, which already has some mangrove growth. Bringing back more mangroves in this area can help the biodiversity.”

“Interestingly, mangrove seeds can spread independently through the surrounding plants, allowing them to grow in an appropriate coastal spot even without people actively planting them,” he added.