A new study led by researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India has provided the first-ever map of how scientific knowledge about India’s vital mangrove forests has evolved over the last century. By analysing over a thousand research papers published since 1963, the team discovered that while interest in these blue carbon ecosystems is at an all-time high, the research is surprisingly lopsided. The findings show that a massive spike in scientific activity followed the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, as researchers scrambled to understand how these coastal forests protect human lives.
The researchers used bibliometric analysis, studying the data by analysing the publications themselves. Using the PRISMA methodology, a strict set of guidelines for systematic reviews, they combed through databases like Google Scholar and ResearchGate. They identified 1,070 peer-reviewed articles, tracking who wrote them, where the studies were conducted, and which topics were most popular. This allowed them to see the big picture of Indian mangrove science, moving beyond small, individual studies to understand the national trajectory of conservation efforts.
Did You Know? Mangroves are some of the only trees in the world that can live in salty water. They have specialised snorkel roots called pneumatophores that stick out of the mud so the tree can breathe when the tide comes in! |
Their detailed study showed that natural disasters drive data. Before 2004, India averaged about 18 mangrove-related papers per year. After the tsunami, that number more than doubled to 41 papers annually. This shift reflects a global realisation that mangroves are natural coastal shields that can reduce the energy of storm surges and sequester massive amounts of carbon.
However, the study also notes an imbalance, with the geographical distribution of mangrove research across India’s states being notably uneven. West Bengal, home to the massive Sundarbans mangrove forests, accounts for 42% of India’s mangrove cover and accounts for 25.2% of all peer-reviewed articles. This is followed by Odisha at 16% and Tamil Nadu at 15.1%. Other contributors on the East Coast include Andhra Pradesh at 8.1% and Puducherry at 1.8%.
Along the west coast, the research output is led by Kerala at 7.5%, followed by Goa at 6.9%, Maharashtra at 6.5%, and Gujarat at approximately 6%. Rounding out the figures, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands account for 7.3% of the research, Karnataka stands at 3.8% and the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu contributes a minor 0.3%.
The researchers noted that states with higher research output, like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, often have more established universities and Marine science institutions. In contrast, the study highlights a significant scientific gap in Gujarat, India’s second-largest mangrove-holding state, which accounts for 24% of the national cover but remains under-represented in the literature due to a lack of institutional infrastructure to match its massive forest cover. The study also highlights that while we have plenty of studies on mangrove fungi and bacteria, we are severely lacking in research regarding climate change impacts (only 1.6% of studies) and pollution (3.1%).
The research provides a roadmap for future conservation by identifying that we are neglecting the impact of climate change and pollution on our coasts. It allows policymakers to redirect funding toward the most urgent threats. As sea levels rise, knowing exactly where our scientific blind spots are is the first step toward ensuring that India’s coastal communities remain protected by the very forests that saved lives two decades ago.
This article was written with the help of generative AI and edited by an editor at Research Matters.
