Mangrove Forests in India

• Mangrove forests, also called mangrove swamps, mangrove thickets or mangals, are productive wetlands that occur in coastal intertidal zones.

• Mangrove forests grow mainly at tropical and subtropical latitudes because mangrove trees cannot withstand freezing temperatures.

• Mangroves in India: Mangrove cover in India is about 0.15% of the total geographical areas  found in West Bengal, Gujarat,  Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

• Largest mangrove forest in India is Sundarbans (UNESCO world heritage site) followed by Bhitarkanika (Odisha).