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The India State of Forest Report (ISFR)-2015 shows that there has been a net increase of 17 square kilometres of mangrove forest cover in Krishna district since 2013.

This is the highest recorded increase of mangrove forest in the country when compared to other districts in nine States and three Union Territories known to have mangrove forests. Next to Krishna is Raigarh district of Maharashtra which recorded an increase of 15 sq.km in mangrove cover.

There has been net increase of 112 sq.km. in the mangrove cover of the country as compared to 2013 assessment, according to the ISFR.

“The credit goes to the nature, mangrove forests are able to grow due to less human interference in Krishna district,” Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife-Eluru) Ms. Subhadra Devi told The Hindu . Out of the total extent of 367 sq km of mangrove cover in Andhra Pradesh, Krishna district has 126 sq. km. including 87 and 39 sq.km of open and moderately dense mangrove cover.

The Krishna district’s mangrove cover including Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary comprises mangrove species such as Avicennia marina, Avicennia officinalis and Bruguiera gymorrhiza. In East Godavari district there has been a four per cent decrease when compared to the cover of 2013.

“Various mangrove saplings have been planted in above 2,700 hectares of area to improve the mangrove forest cover in Krishna district since 2007,” said Ms. Subhadra Devi. The mangrove serves as breeding and nursing grounds for marine and pelagic species. It has been widely recognised that mangrove forest cover across the Krishna district is serving as seed ground for fish species such as Asian Sea Bass, Sylla Seratta (Wild Crab), apart playing a crucial role in protecting coastal areas from natural calamities.

The India State of Forest Report (ISFR)-2015 shows that there has been a net increase of 17 square kilometres of mangrove forest cover in Krishna district since 2013

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