Which of the following best explain(s) the rationale for protecting mangrove ecosystems in the context of climate resilience?
- 1.Mangroves reduce tidal energy and store freshwater, making them ideal sites for paddy cultivation in saline estuarine belts.
- 2.Their salt-sensitive roots filter seawater, making mangroves key to converting coastal land into freshwater aquaculture zones.
- 3.By withstanding tidal surges and offering biomass resources, mangroves function both as natural bio-shields and livelihood bases for rural communities.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Answer & explanation
Answer: (d) 3 only
Mangroves are salt-tolerant forests of tidal creeks and estuaries that absorb the force of storm surges and tsunami waves while supplying fuelwood, fish and other products to coastal people. They are neither freshwater stores for paddy nor salt-sensitive filters for freshwater fish farming; clearing them for such uses actually weakens coastal resilience.
- ✗ 1. Mangroves grow in saline tidal water and do not store freshwater; converting them to paddy fields removes the very buffer that protects the coast.
- ✗ 2. Mangrove species are salt-tolerant, not salt-sensitive, and their value lies in standing forest, not in turning coasts into freshwater aquaculture ponds.
- ✓ 3. Along with beaches and dunes, mangroves absorb the destructive force of storm and tsunami waves, and they provide wood, fuel and fisheries that support coastal livelihoods.
Remember · Mangroves: salt-tolerant tidal forests; natural bio-shields against cyclones and tsunamis, carbon sinks and livelihood sources. India has about 4,992 sq km of mangroves.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Ch 6 (practise this chapter) · Class 11 India: Physical Environment, Ch 5 (practise this chapter) · Class 8 Curiosity, Ch 12 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 11 · Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Chapter 6 “Then come the barriers, beaches, beach dunes and mangroves, if any, to absorb the destructive force of storm and tsunami waves.”
- NCERT Class 11 · India: Physical Environment, Chapter 5 “They consist of a number of salt-tolerant species of plants. Crisscrossed by creeks of stagnant water and tidal flows, these forests give shelter to a wide variety of birds.”
- NCERT Class 8 · Curiosity, Chapter 12 “The Sundarbans protect us by slowing down strong winds and waves during storms and floods.”
Question and answer: UPSC's provisional GS Paper I (2026, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·