TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) at Dona Paula has decided to conduct a satellite survey of the mangroves in Goa to evaluate the present status of these key species and prepare the groundwork for conservation plans. The project has been taken up after the Goa government sent a proposal requesting to conduct a study of the mangrove areas in the State.
‘NIO will conduct a satellite survey of the mangroves in the State which will include the area that it covers and other aspects,” NIO Director S W A Naqvi told a section of reporters during a two-day exhibition on ‘creating awareness on mangroves’ at its headquarters on Sunday.
Goa has 16 different special of mangroves of which a majority is facing serious threat of extinction from human activities and otherwise. Nonetheless, to a relief, Naqvi said that the destruction of mangroves in Goa is far less compared to other states in the country.
“Mandovi, Zuari and Cumbarjua estuaries has plenty mangroves areas…We however need to create awareness to protect and preserve these special for future,” he said.
According to a study, 15 mangrove species have been declared as protected species in 1990 and all mangrove areas has been put under CRZ-I category.
Mangroves provide a wide range of services and benefits to the mankind as its ecological and economical values are recognized world over. In Goa it is protected as a nursery ground for various fish and crab species, which forms a part of daily food, however, at several places these are destroyed for encroachment or other purposes.
