Mangrove Conservation - A Survey Based Study on the Awareness and Attitude of General Population of Mumbai
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRST25126237Keywords:
Mangroves, Survey, Awareness, QuestionnaireAbstract
Mumbai’s mangroves are critical coastal ecosystems providing vital services such as shoreline protection and flood mitigation, yet they face increasing threats from rapid urban expansion. The current research work uses a survey-based approach to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the general population of Mumbai towards mangrove conservation, with a specific focus on the youth demographic (aged 15-25) who comprised over 88% of the participants. The results reveal a significant knowledge deficit among this key demographic. Participants reported a low average self-evaluated knowledge score. A large majority (over 50%) had never visited a mangrove swamp, and many were unaware of their crucial medicinal or economic uses. Furthermore, awareness of the critical ecological functions of mangroves, such as preventing biodiversity loss, mitigating flooding, and combating climate change, was alarmingly low. A concerning 64% of respondents were unaware of local conservation sites, and 71% were not familiar with the Ramsar Site of Mumbai. However, the study also demonstrated that targeted interventions can effectively address this knowledge gap. When provided with a simple infographic, participants' self-evaluated knowledge scores significantly improved from a pre-test average of 5.02 ± 0.158 and a post-test average of 6.91 ± 0.151, proving that accessible educational tools can create a rapid and measurable impact. Building on this finding, the research team further developed a free, user-friendly website as a practical solution to empower citizens with accessible information. This initiative underscores the paper’s central conclusion: that while expert-led efforts are essential, community awareness and individual action are equally crucial for the long-term protection and sustainable management of Mumbai's threatened mangrove ecosystems.
Downloads
References
K. Maurya, S. Mahajan and N. Chaube, “Remote sensing techniques: Mapping and monitoring of mangrove ecosystem—A review,” Complex & Intelligent Systems, vol. 7, no. 6, pp. 2797-2818, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40747-021-00457-z
A. G. Hondappanavar, S. S. Bhat and P. K. Verma, “Floristic diversity of mangroves and mangrove associate species of Kali River Estuary, Karwar, Karnataka, India,” Journal of Threatened Taxa, vol. 16, no. 5, pp. 25188-25197, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8456.16.5.25188-25197
IUCN, “Red List of Mangrove Ecosystems,” 2024. [Online]. Available: https://iucn.org/resources/conservation-tool/iucn-red-list-ecosystems/red-list-mangrove-ecosystems. [Accessed 10 07 2025].
S. E. Hamilton and D. Casey, “Creation of a high spatio‐temporal resolution global database of continuous mangrove forest cover for the 21st century (CGMFC‐21),” Global Ecology and Biogeography, vol. 25, no. 6, pp. 729-738, 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12449
Global Mangrove Alliance, “The State of the World’s Mangroves 2022,” Global Mangrove Alliance, 2022.
L. Goldberg, D. Lagomasino, N. Thomas and T. Fatoyinbo, “Global declines in human‐driven mangrove loss,” Global change biology, vol. 26, no. 10, pp. 5844-5855, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15275
C. Shen and R. Wu, “Analyzing nonlinear contributions from climate change and anthropogenic activity to the normalized difference vegetation index across China using a locally weighted regression approach,” Heliyon, vol. 9, no. 6, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16694
D. Friess, J. B. Adam, D. A. Brown and R. Bhargava, “Mangrove forests: Their status, threats, conservation and restoration,” in Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science (Second Edition), D. Baird and M. Elliot, Eds., Elsevier Inc, Academic Press, 2024, pp. 596 - 625. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-90798-9.00031-7
M. Bose, “Study finds alarming threats to India's mangroves, seagrasses & salt marshes,” Deccan Herald, Mumbai, 2025.
C. Youdon, “Climate change impact on mangrove ecosystems in India’s coastal region,” National Maritime Foundation, pp. 8-60, 2020.
S. C. Sahu, H. S. Suresh, I. K. Murthy and N. H. Ravindranath, “Mangrove area assessment in India: Implications of loss of mangroves,” Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change, vol. 6, no. 5, p. 1000280, 2015.
A. Azeez, L. Gnanappazham, K. R. Muraleedharan, C. Revichandran, S. John, G. Seena and J. Thomas, “Multi-decadal changes of mangrove forest and its response to the tidal dynamics of thane creek, Mumbai,” Journal of Sea Research, vol. 180, p. 102162, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2021.102162
G. Velmurugan, R. Subashini, N. Sarvanabhavan and A. K. Sharma , “The Environmental Impact of Rising Sea Levels on the Global South,” International Journal of Computational and Experimental Science and Engineering,, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 585 - 594, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22399/ijcesen.857
N. Jain, M. Kejariwal, L. Khot, Y. Kadam, M. Patil, D. Jhade and P. Sharma, “Computational analysis of mangrove domestication: impact on coastal flora and fauna in Mumbai,” Chelonian Conservation And Biology, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 1903-1915, 2023.
S. Rebello, “Mumbai: Thane mangroves act as carbon sink,” Hindustan Times, Mumbai, 2015.
F. Hussain, “Environmental Activism and Community Engagement: A Case Study of the Save Our Mangroves Campaign in Mumbai,” Review Journal of Social Psychology & Social Works, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 53-60, 2023.
A. Shaham, “Evaluating a Decade of Mangrove Restorations in Mumbai,” Consilience: The Journal of Sustainable Development, vol. 27, pp. 1-24, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52214/consilience.vi27.12431
The Hindu Bureau, “Bombay HC gave permission to cut 22,000 mangroves for bullet train project,” The Hindu, Mumbai, 2022.
S. Deshpande, “Bombay High Court Permits Mangrove Clearance for Several Road, Infra Projects,” Times of India, Mumbai, 2019.
B. Chatterjee, “Coastal Road project: Mumbai to lose mangrove cover equivalent to 4 Oval Maidans,” Hindustan Times, 2017, 2017.
B. Chhaba, H. B. Dhamagaye, V. Kachave, E. A. Goud, N. D. Gangan, V. S. Aitwar and M. Yadav, “Chapter-2 Restoration of Mangroves along the Indian Coast.,” Research Trends in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, vol. 17, pp. 19-28, 2024.
H. Hakimi, M. A. H. Safi and I. U. R. Momand, “Public Awareness, and its Impacts on Climate Change,” Nangarhar University International Journal of Biosciences, pp. 380-384, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.70436/nuijb.v3i02.244
H. Rahmani, W. Wafa and F. G. M. Yar, “The importance of public awareness in environmental protection: A case study in Paktika, Afghanistan,” Nature Environment and Pollution Technology, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 1621-1626, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.46488/NEPT.2021.v20i04.024
R. A. A. Rashid, W. M. W. Mehammud and T. Arai, “Assessing the Youths' Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Towards Mangrove Forest Conservation,” International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science,, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 5673-5685, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.90400405
J. Come, N. Peer, J. L. Nhamussua, N. A. Miranda, C. C. Macamo, A. S. Cabral, H. Madivadua, D. Zacarias, J. Narciso and B. Snow, “A socio-ecological survey in Inhambane Bay mangrove ecosystems: Biodiversity, livelihoods, and conservation,” Ocean & Coastal Management, vol. 244, p. 106813, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106813
Ramsar, “Ramsar Convention on Wetlands,” 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.ramsar.org/. [Accessed 17 07 2025].
R. Badola, S. Barthwal and S. A. Hussain, “Attitudes of local communities towards conservation of mangrove forests: A case study from the east coast of India,” Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, vol. 96, pp. 188 - 196, 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2011.11.016
M. I. Sawairnathan and N. Halimoon, “Assessment of the local communities’ knowledge on mangrove ecology,” International Journal of Human Capital in Urban Management, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 125-138, 2017.
D. Kaippilly, C. E. Rajan and M. T. Geeji, “Attitude and Perception of Local Inhabitants towards Mangrove Ecosystems,” Journal of Extension Education, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 5984-5987, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26725/JEE.2017.4.29.5984-5987
Y. Uchiyama, J. M. D. Quevedo and R. Kohsaka, “Conservation of green blue carbon ecosystem: Local perceptions and awareness on mangrove forest,” Seoul, 2022.
S. Kabari, N. Zabbey, N. D. Gbaa, J. C. Ezurike and C. M. Okoro, “Towards a framework for mangrove restoration and conservation in Nigeria,” Regional Studies in Marine Science, vol. 66, p. 103154, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2023.103154
R. Rosmiati, B. Rauf and F. Amir, “Attitude of coastal communities on mangrove forest management: a phenomenological study from bulukumba regency, Indonesia,” Asian Journal of Applied Sciences, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 74-82, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24203/ajas.v10i1.6877
N. A. Kulkarni and L. J. Bhosale, “Mangroves of Maharashtra State (India): diversity and sustainability,” Plantae Scientia, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 178-207, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32439/ps.v4i3.178-207
P. Bunting, A. Rosenqvist, L. Hilarides, R. M. Lucas, N. Thomas, T. Tadono, T. A. Worthington, M. Spalding, N. J. Murray and L. M. Rebelo, “Bunting, P., Rosenqvist, A., Hilarides, L., LucGlobal mangrove extent change 1996–2020: Global mangrove watch version 3.0,” Remote Sensing, vol. 14, no. 15, p. 3657, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14153657
M. K. Kripa, N. Lele, M. Panda, S. Kumar Das, A. H. Nivas, N. Divakaran, A. Sawant, S. Naik-Gaonkar, A. K. Pattnaik, R. N. Samal and T. Thangaradjou, “Biodiversity assessment of Indian mangroves using in situ observations and remotely sensed data,” Biodiversity, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 198-216, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14888386.2020.1843540
T. M. Nijamdeen, N. Ephrem, J. Hugé , K. A. S. Kodikara and F. Dahdouh-Guebas, “Understanding the ethnobiological importance of mangroves to coastal communities: A case study from Southern and North-western Sri Lanka,” Marine Policy, vol. 147, p. 106813, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105391
J. Jadin and S. Rousseau, “Local community attitudes towards mangrove forest conservation,” Journal for Nature Conservation, vol. 68, p. 126232, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126232
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 International Journal of Scientific Research in Science and Technology
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
