World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

DECLINE OF MANGROVE ECOSYSTEMS AND ITS IMPACT ON COASTAL AND MARINE FAUNA IN ANDHRA PRADESH

*Dr. Sachi Devi P.

ABSTRACT

India's coastline spans 7,517 kilometers, with 5,423 km along Peninsular India and 2,094 km around the Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep Islands. Andhra Pradesh boasts the country's third-longest coastline, stretching about 974 kilometers along the Bay of Bengal. This coastal region features diverse natural and man-made ecosystems, including mangroves, mudflats, beaches, estuaries, creeks, marshes, lagoons, and seagrass beds. Mangrove forests in Andhra Pradesh extend from Srikakulam in the north to Nellore in the south, with dense concentrations in the Godavari and Krishna estuaries. These areas benefit from abundant freshwater inflow, rich sediments, and nutrients. Known as tidal or mangrove forests, these salt-tolerant ecosystems are regularly flushed by tidal waters and play a vital role in protecting coastlines from cyclones and erosion. One such popular biosystem is Godavari mangroves. The Godavari mangroves are India’s second largest, after the Sundarbans, and serve as critical habitats for a wide range of wildlife. This includes endangered mammals like the smooth Indian otter and fishing cat, numerous bird species such as herons and kingfishers, reptiles like estuarine crocodiles and sea turtles, and many invertebrates including crabs and shrimp. Despite their ecological importance, Andhra Pradesh’s mangroves face serious threats from habitat destruction, pollution, encroachment, illegal aquaculture, and climate change. The degradation of these forests leads to biodiversity loss, disrupted food chains, and heightened vulnerability to coastal erosion and storm surges.

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