Human Impact Assessment on Mangrove Forests of Andaman Islands

Abstract

A comparative study of disturbed and undisturbed mangrove forests of Andaman has been done. It was noted that mangrove forests of Andaman Islands are one of the best mangrove forests of the world having high floristic richness, complexity index and biomass production. Rapid development and population inflow in the Islands has resulted in the clearance of certain areas of mangrove forests, due to which many species Bruguiera gymnorhiza, B.cylindrica, B.parviflora, B sexangula, Rhizophora lamarakii, R stylosa, Ceriops tagal, Lumnitzera racemosa, Sonneratia apetala and Nypafruticans have been affected. The values of biomass, litter-fall, litter decomposition, soil respiration were greater in undisturbed forests.