Monitoring and Assessment of Plant Diversity in Indian Mangrove Vegetation with Reference to the Current Conservation Practices
Mangrove vegetation in estuarine environment of Indian coast played a significant role in maintaining protective ecological and economic functions. Plant diversity of mangrove vegetation in Indian coast is certainly unique with respect to species diversity and their association in diverse habitats. But during the passage of time many species are disappearing from their natural habitats due to local climate and anthropogenic causes. The present review discusses the causes and consequences of certain species loss and also the current strategies for conservation of coastal mangrove vegetation. The goods and various services offered by mangrove vegetation now consider as major impetus for strategic management and conservation of coastal vegetation cover. We hardly make any valuation of functions of mangrove forest from economic or ecological standpoint. Some time it is really difficult to valuate many ecological functions of mangrove vegetation. In spite of such a significant value of mangrove vegetation, the community living around has little realization above such significant contribution of mangrove vegetation. Consequently, dependence of human settlement around mangrove forests in various parts of world facing serious problem with respect to unregulated resource exploitation beyond the threshold limit. Practically there is no assessment of carrying capacity of mangrove inhabitant area. As a consequence the mangrove vegetation of fringe, riverine or most of the estuarine area faced severe anthropogenic pressure, which needs a comprehensive strategic conservation plan for sustainable development of the entire coastal environment.