What’s happening to our precious mangroves?
Mangroves of Maldives, which are usually found in depression
of islets, are among one of the most beautiful, natural attractions of the
country and mangrove species also expand along island lagoons. Mangrove areas
are a highly active ecosystem that contributes to the food chains of the atoll
islands. They are also important to atoll ecosystems as they filter out silt;
nutrients and sand that would otherwise go out to house reefs around the
islands, suffocate corals and promote algal production. Local geologists and
environmentalists say that these depressions or mangroves are of great
importance in maintaining an eco-balance. Some of the famous species found in
Maldivian Mangroves are mainly Rhizophora and Bruguiera. Click here to check pictures and videos of some of the most beautiful mangroves of Maldives.
The unique fragile atoll ecosystem is not sufficiently
protected in the Maldives to the best of its maximum, which environmentalists
have long recommended would enjoy special protection. However, not much action
was taken to protect these beautiful environments and these beautiful mangroves
of Maldives have turned eerie and lifeless now. Before preventive measures were
taken the beautiful green scenery of the mangroves full of life is now starting
to turn brown and dead due to sudden and strange phenomenon of drying up of
trees. The mangroves in many Northern islands of Maldives like Ha. Kelaa, Ha.
Neykurendhoo and N. Kendhikulhudhoo are facing this problem.
You can access to a journal article, done on the mangrove
Ha. Baarah, to increase the understanding of ecological rich ecosystems like
mangrove, in here.
The loss of mangroves is rapid and new
In the mangroves, first, the leaves of the tree turn yellow
and then the tree start drying leading to their death. This problem of dying of
trees in the northern island of Maldives started vey recently and this problem
is especially prominent in the Ha. Neykurendhoo mangrove. This mangrove in
Neykurendhoo is the largest mangrove in Maldives, which used to be very thick
with all the small-leafed orange mangroves. But now they are not as thick as
used to be according to Ali Adam, the president of Ha. Neykurendhoo council. Ali
Adam mentioned that they started noticing this drying up and dying of the trees
very recently and up until now more than 10,000 trees have died, which is about
2/3 of the mangrove.
Assistant director of Maldives Environmental Protection
Agency, Aishath Farahath Ali said that none of their records show this problem occurring
in any mangroves in Maldives. Since this is all very new they are still trying
to find what could be the cause of this.
What could be the cause of it?
There are many causes which could be responsible for this
huge destruction of our breathtaking mangroves. Firstly, it could be caused due
to a plant pathogen because these plant pathogens could cause many different
diseases in a plant causing it to dry up and die. Or it could even be caused
due to climate change. Climate changes could affect plants tremendously and
could even cause its death in some cases. There is also the possibility that it
could be due to sea salt. In most islands, the mangroves are pretty close to
sea, where the sea salt from the ocean could have an effect on the plants of
the mangroves. Here is a journal article explaining many factors which lead to
mangrove destruction.
To find the cause of this destruction of our beautiful
mangroves, samples have been taken from these mangroves and sent for testing. So
until we get the results we are not going to know for sure which is ruining our
mangroves. Our mangroves should be saved. Preventive measure should be taken fast,
before we lose the rest of what is left of the mangroves.
Information sources
No comments:
Post a Comment