Vishal Jaiswal, a 27-year-old drone enthusiast, has turned his childhood hobby into a profession by using drones to map the vast mangrove forests of the Sundarbans. Covering over 4,000 sq miles, the Sundarbans are the world’s largest area of mangroves, home to a diverse ecosystem including wild animals.
Jaiswal and his team recently mapped 150 sq km of the Sundarbans in just three days, facing challenges such as dense forests and wild animals. Their work is crucial for protecting the mangrove forests from the threats of climate change and human activities.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reports that more than half of all mangrove ecosystems globally are at risk of collapse by 2050. In India, the mangroves of South India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives are considered critically endangered.
To monitor the health of the mangroves, scientists like Dr. Sahadev Sharma are using technology such as Lidar scanners attached to steel rods to measure the height of the mangroves in relation to sea level. This data is essential for understanding the impact of rising sea levels on the mangrove ecosystem.
Local communities, like fisherman Laxman Anna in Andhra Pradesh, are also taking steps to preserve mangroves by planting saplings and working with NGOs and forest departments. These efforts are already showing positive results, with improved fishing yields and livelihoods for coastal communities.
The use of technology and community-driven conservation efforts are crucial for protecting mangrove ecosystems like the Sundarbans, which play a vital role in supporting biodiversity and providing livelihoods for local communities.
