๐ Pichavaram Mangroves Valued at โน2,485 Crore: Study
๐ Why in News?
๐ข A study has estimated the Total Economic Value (TEV) of the Pichavaram Mangrove Ecosystem in Tamil Nadu at โน2,485.38 crore, highlighting the need to integrate ecosystem valuation into coastal planning.
๐ Key Findings
๐ข The mangroves provide provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural ecosystem services.
๐ข They support biodiversity conservation, fisheries productivity, coastal protection, climate regulation and human well-being.
๐ข Their non-market ecological benefits often remain undervalued in conventional development planning.
๐ Blue Carbon Significance
๐ข Pichavaram acts as a significant natural carbon sink and climate-regulation asset.
๐ข Its mangrove sediments constitute a substantial carbon reservoir.
๐ข When vegetation and soil carbon pools are combined, the blue carbon asset value was estimated at โน1,612.40 crore.
๐ Recommendations
๐ข Integrate ecosystem-service valuation into coastal development planning and environmental decision-making.
๐ข Recognise mangroves as nature-based solutions for climate adaptation and disaster-risk reduction.
๐ข Develop blue-carbon financing mechanisms, carbon-credit programmes and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes.
๐ Why Important?
๐ข Demonstrates how mangrove conservation delivers both ecological and economic benefits.
๐ข Strengthens the case for valuing natural capital in development decisions.
#environment
1September 6, 2026 554 6
