The scientist who made ‘mangroves’ a buzzword, Pg 6.

Key Highlights:

• M.S. Swaminathan, in 1989, emphasized mangroves' role in climate change mitigation and coastal protection.
• He co-founded the International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME) in 1990 and served as its first President.
• The Charter for Mangroves, co-authored by Swaminathan, was later adopted into the World Charter for Nature (1992).
• His work led to the fishbone canal method for mangrove restoration and establishment of mangrove genetic resource centres.
• Joint Mangrove Management programmes were initiated post-2000, improving government investment and local participation.
• India’s mangrove cover has risen to 4,991.68 km², with a 16.68 km² increase since 2019 (ISFR 2023).
• Mangroves played a vital role in buffering the 1999 Odisha cyclone and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Detailed Insights:

• Historical management flaws: During the colonial and post-independence periods, mangroves were extensively cleared, especially before the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
• Early community blame: Degradation was wrongly attributed to local overuse; later studies revealed the impact of biophysical disruptions like clear-felling.
• Scientific validation: MSSRF’s research corrected this narrative and pioneered restoration via hydro-ecological engineering.
• International leadership: Swaminathan’s role with ISME helped globalize India’s ecological vision for mangroves.
• Participatory governance: Mangrove management shifted to community-inclusive models, improving resilience and equity.
• Post-disaster policy shifts: Natural disasters reaffirmed the disaster risk reduction (DRR) value of mangroves, prompting accelerated investments.

Concepts Involved:

• Fishbone Canal Method: A hydro-engineering technique that mimics natural tidal flows to restore degraded mangroves.
• Mangrove Genetic Resource Centres: Sites for conserving genetic diversity of mangrove species across coastal countries.
• Nature-Based Solutions (NBS): Using ecosystems like mangroves for sustainable climate adaptation and disaster risk mitigation.