Pressures

From 1930s a system of clear felling of mangrove forests was followed with a rotation of 25 years in East Godavari (Coringa) and in Krishna district. For Kandikuppa in East Godavari district felling on rotation of 15 years was followed. The forests owned by private individuals and zamindars were heavily exploited and there was extensive degradation. Apart from felling, browsing by goats, lopping of trees by grazers and collection of fuel wood by the villagers caused denudation of the forests. In 1977 a devastating tidal wave caused extensive damage to many mangrove forests in Krishna district.

Because of forest working and exploitation, open blank spaces have occurred inside the mangrove forests resulting in soil degradation also. Uncontrolled fishing has caused depletion of fishes and crustaceans. In turn fish eating species like otters are also facing extinction. Another threat to the ecosystem has been collection of shells of molluscs from the creeks.

The rehabilitation of endangered species will be possible once their habitat is protected. Crocodiles, otters and turtles became endangered and their existence was threatened due to poaching and encroachment in their habitats. It is necessary to have captive breeding of these species, before they get completely extinct in their natural habitat.

The reasons that are responsible for degradation of mangroves are, high rate of acceleration leading to high rise mudflats which become inaccessible to saline water and decrease of salinity in estuarine waters during south west monsoon due to dilution. These natural factors coupled with encroachments for aquaculture are posing threat to the existence of mangroves.