Asian Journal of Research in Biosciences

The most productive and valuable coastal ecosystems derive their ecological services from mangrove ecosystems which deliver carbon sequestration, coastal protection, nutrient cycling and biodiversity conservation. The ecosystems serve as vital transition zones which link land areas with marine zones while providing assistance to fishing activities and sustaining the economic activities of nearby coastal populations. The blue carbon storage capacity of mangroves enables them to store large quantities of carbon through their biomass and sediment deposits which also protects against the effects of rising sea levels and coastal erosion and extreme weather events. Human activities which include deforestation, aquaculture expansion, urbanization and pollution along with climate change effects have emerged as major threats to these ecosystems. These ecosystems require effective conservation and restoration strategies for their sustainable preservation. Key approaches encompass the protection of existing mangrove forests through the restoration of degraded areas which requires correct site selection for hydrological rehabilitation while creating conditions for natural regeneration which will lead to active community engagement. The ecosystem resilience and sustainable management of mangroves and their ecosystem services will improve through the combination of scientific management methods with policy making and financial support from initiatives like blue carbon programs.