Mangroves, as Dr Sheetal Pachpande, Deputy Director-Projects, Mangrove Foundation, points out, are the skin of our coasts, not only shielding us from floods and storms, but also contributing to a healthier environment and economy. Hence, the recent announcement of the Maharashtra forest department and the Mangrove Cell, to declare 1,575 hectare (ha) of mangrove land along the Konkan coast as reserve forest, bodes well for conservation of the ecologically vital vegetation.

“These mangroves lie in Mumbai suburban, Thane, Raigad and Sindhudurg, which is the most diverse in terms of species. They will come under the reserved forest category. The mangrove areas will be demarcated to prevent encroachment, and once handed over to the forest department, they’ll be able to take better care of them,” Dr Pachpande elaborates, giving us a peek into a few species that thrive along the 720-km coastline.