Panaji: Hinterland Goa has been left to be beaten by the worst flood of the country has seen in forty years.
When July 26 was observed as a world mangrove day, experts warn that the coast of the country can also face similar floods if encroachment on mangrove patches is not prevented.
At present, Goa doesn’t even have a correct assessment of the mangrove cover.
And even though the law calls for reforestation of mangrove patch compensation to be cleaned for construction, taking mangroves is not very important as forest trees.
“When Canacona Taluka had to face floods in 2009, people who lived in the coastal area of Mashem and Galgibaga fully understood the importance of mangroves in their territory.
It was seen that there was not much awareness about mangroves, people exploited them.
Many of them cut it for firewood and that Others are just stupid about their existence, “said Chandralekha Damodar Mestri, a member of the Mangrove Society of India, which has a base in Goa with professors, scientists, and Awah as members spread throughout the country.
Goa accommodates 16 mangrove species and is considered to have among the best mangrove forests in this country.
Patches found on Chorao Island have most species found in Goa, Mestri said.
However, the awareness of the importance of mangrove ecosystem is not the best in this country.
“The root of the mangrove tree is tightly tangled and acts like a net, which traps the sediment and captures soil erosion.
The root allows trees to handle daily increases and falling tides.
The roots also slow down the movements of tidal waters.
Together, this mechanism helps minimize the effect of flooding , “Vinod Dhargalkar said, the Mangrove Society of India executive member.
The mangrove ecosystem is also believed to help reduce the impact of global warming.
“Mangrove helps stabilize the beach and the beach.
They protect the ground from the surge in the tidal and storm of the cyclone,” said Mestri.
The community believes it is the time for the local body to take mangrove preservation with seriousness.
Goa: Mangrove losses can trigger coastal floods, experts say
