Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

FEW RARE, ENDANGERED, VULNERABLE AND THREATENED MANGALS FROM ORISSA COAST WORTH CONSERVING

N.K. Dhal and N.C. Rout

Abstract

Mangrove is an unique ecosystem which form "forests of the sea". The mangrove vegetation in Orissa in noteworthy owing to its diversity of mangals which is about 65 t/a. The forest area has remarkably shrunk and ecological balance has been shattered to an alarming state due to shrimp culture, cultivation, human habitation, timber and charcoal collection. The Super Cyclone has inflicted irreparable damage to the vegetation and ecology of this area. Heritiera kanikensis, Rhizophora sty/osa, Sonneratia alba, S. caseolaris, Merope angulata etc. are the few taxa under tremendous pressure of depletion and needs immediate measures for conservation. The distributional pattern, ecological notes, and appropriate conservation measures required to be taken up are discussed in this paper.