Timing of works and control of turbidity and plumes from equipment as well as the correct disposal of dredged materials is crucial. Management of dredging methods is essential. Dredging projects must always consider the unique dynamic of nearby mangrove forests.Ī dredging project in a sensitive mangrove area requires awareness of the impact that dredging operations can have on mangrove growth if too much sediment enters the shallow waters of a mangrove. Damage of mangroves can result in the loss of coastal protection and increased flooding of adjacent lands. Mangroves are extremely productive ecosystems that provide valuable ecological and socio-economic benefits to people living in coastal areas. In this context, protecting mangroves and, if necessary, restoring them should be a part of an overall coastal defence plan and dredging projects should be aware of the importance of their preservation. As mangrove areas recede along coastlines often by human interventions, they weaken the natural storm defences. They absorb the first brunt of the storm’s impact and dissipate the energy of the waves before they reach the hinterland. As has been often reported, broad areas of mangroves have reduced the loss of life and damage caused by hurricanes and tsunamis. Their ability to survive in brackish waters and their dense, aerial root system provide protection from storms, waves and high tides.
Mangroves play a crucial role in coastal protection.
This in turn allows the growth of non-mangrove and invasive species. Both the lack of water and excess sediments will stop mangrove seedlings from regenerating. On the other hand, an excess of sediments carried in by storms or human activities like dredging can smother their roots. Changes in topography (soil) and hydrology (water) can prevent tidal waters from reaching the mangrove leaving the roots exposed. The sediments and soils in a mangrove area have a very specific composition. Minor changes, whether natural or anthropogenic, can cause considerable change in the health of the mangroves and the flora and fauna in the mangrove habitat. Mangroves are a type of wetland which has adapted to living in brackish waters.
This in turn reduces erosion of the coast and protects coastal communities. They help stabilise coastal areas, acting as a natural barrier to storms and tsunamis. These dense aerial roots bind and build soils and slow down the effects of wind and waves. They typically have numerous tangled roots above ground and form dense thickets. Mangrove habitats are tropical coastal swamps that usually flood during high tides.
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