Mangroves contribute significantly to the coastal economy and ecology, but they are threatened by numerous factors. Elaborate. Also, state the measures taken by the government for mangrove conservation and restoration.

Mangroves are ecotone rare vegetation known as the kidney of earth. India has 3% of land under mangroves (Forest Survey) Contribut to coastal economy: (1) Provide timber - softwood trees such as Sundry (2) Boat handicraft, wood industries - tourism (3) Support livelihood - e.g. coastal populations depend on collecting fruit etc (4) Nurseries Support - they provide breeding ground for fishes (5) Preserve chicks from natural disaster act as 1st line of defence Concerns (Causes of decline): (1) Water filtration - acts as sediment and pollutant absorber (2) Regulatory services - provide micro climate control (3) Biodiversity support - e Birds, vegetation diversity etc (4) Preserve ecosystem as keystone as foodweb dependent on them (5) Provisioning services such as floor faunal support Threats: a) Degradation e Dredging, Fishing, Agricultural expansion, Population pressure and air exploitation b) River pollution - heavy pollutant load c) Agricultural expansion d) Population pressure and air exploitation

Coastal ecology: (1) Water filtration - acts as sediment and pollutant absorber (2) Regulatory services - provide micro climate control (3) Biodiversity support - e Birds, vegetation diversity etc (4) Preserve ecosystem as keystone as foodweb dependent on them (5) Provisioning services such as floor faunal support Threats/Concerns (causes of decline): (1) Degradation e Dredging, Fishing, Agricultural expansion, Population pressure and air exploitation b) River pollution - heavy pollutant load c) Agricultural expansion d) Population pressure and air exploitation Government measures: (1) MISHTI - protected, preserve and promote mangroves by support state govt. (2) Mangrove alliance - ICIMOD cooperation for preserving mangroves (3) Mangrove drivers - e.g. EK Red hatstth SIAMF ke naam (4) Coastal Zone Regulation - based on Saulash Nayak Committee (5) Strict measures to prevent unauthorized cutting of mangroves (6) River pollution control measures such as Narmada gauge (7) Setting NGOs such as Green India for civil society led preservation (8) Hands under National mission for Green India (9) Restoration efforts by afforestation promotion e Ujjat Initiative What most is needed: a) Strict regulation of illegal expansion & afforestation b) Awareness among locals c) Innovative solutions for restoration