Mangroves: A Barrier Against Erosion

Abstract

Coastal erosion is a natural process in which rocks, sands and mud particles are dislodged from the shoreline by various eroding agents. Wave actions and tidal surges are the major eroding agents which erode the beaches and intertidal mudflats. In the mangrove ecosystem the loose mud are highly prone to erosion. The magnitude of erosion in islands and coastal areas is regulated by the density of vegetation (preferably mangroves and mangrove associate species). In Indian Sundarban ecosystem, the relative abundance of mangroves greatly influences the process of erosion. It is considerably low, where the density of mangrove is high in terms of population with considerable biomass. The case studies highlighted in this chapter serves as a road map to evaluate the role of mangroves in controlling erosion.