Odisha with a mangrove forest area of 231 square km stands second only to Sundarbans in West Bengal. Kendrapara, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur and Puri districts are home to mangrove, otherwise known as coastal woodland.
As per the latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021 released on Thursday, the mangrove forest area in Odisha has increased by 8 square kilometers in a three-year period spanning from 2019-2021. The State’s growth rate is the highest in the country. Odisha was followed by Maharashtra (4 sq km) and Karnataka (3 sq km).
Dr Parida said that “availability of the genome sequence of mangrove species will trigger a wide range of molecular studies not only in India but throughout the world”.
The animal is accorded ‘protected’ status under wildlife legal provisions.
While 82 square Km area in Bhitarkanika is densely mangrove-infested while 95 square km area has moderate mangrove forest. 54 square km patches are sparsely covered under mangrove forest.
In 1999 when the super cyclone with much greater velocity than Amphan had its landfall in Odisha, the Bhitarkanika area was saved as the mangrove species withstood the onslaught of gusty wind.
