Environmental degradation and mangrove - Insights from the Indian Sundarbans

Abstract

The Indian Sundarban, the world’s largest contiguous mangrove forest has experienced significant change, attributed to human activities and natural causes. However, a component may also be due to factors commonly associated with anthropogenic, climate change, including higher air temperatures, variations in rainfall, increases in storm frequencies and intensities, and rising sea levels. The expected responses of mangroves to these drivers include changes in extent growth rates, productivity, and species composition. This paper reviews such responses and illustrates how these might appear within. In doing so, it informs countries and organizations of the potential impacts of climate change on mangrove forests and how these may be monitored.