Mangrove Eco-system and their Multifunctionalities: An Analysis of the Provision of Economic and Environmental Livelihoods to the Fishermen Communities in the South-East Coast of India

Abstract

A study was conducted to analyze the direct and indirect benefits of Pitchavaram Mangrove Forests (PMF) in the south east coast region of Tamil Nadu, India, where the concentration of mangrove biosphere is substantial. For the study, 30 numbers each of fishermen and tourists were personally contacted. About 75% of the respondents depended mangrove area for fishing while coastal area was the source of fish catch for only 25% of sample respondents. Among the tourists respondents, only 3.3% were foreigners, 10% were from other states and the rest were domestic visitors. It is understood that high income and educated people showed more interest in visiting places of natural origin. People who travelled by own vehicles had higher visitation rate of 50% than those travelling by hired vehicles owing to the high cost of hired vehicles. The marital status had a negative influence on visitation rate. Travel cost had a significant influence on frequency of visits. The major findings of the regression results regarding the overall impact of PMF was that the people who entered into fishing and other mangrove dependent occupations had extensively improved their standard of living.