Mangroves are coastal habitats, contributing significantly to the well-being of coastal community,
especially in Asia wherein over 70% of human population depends on the coastal resources for food and
employment. In recent decades the uncontrolled run off materials from agriculture and industry are
entering in to the mangrove system and polluting it alarmingly. The pollutants in particular, heavy metals
(Hg, Cd, Ni, Pb, Cu, Cr, and Zn) enter into this system and maroon the mangrove substrate soil. Due to this
property, there is a wide accumulation of heavy metals in mangrove flora and fauna. Obviously any small
change in mangrove habitat has profound impacts on adjacent coastal systems including seagrass beds
and coral reefs. This results in alteration of density and diversity of coastal life which is interlaced with
coastal economy. Moreover, coastal people in Asian region are highly prone to heavy metal contamination
due to diminishing of mangroves which will release the deposited heavy metals, which will reach
man in several ways. It is the time to control further decline of mangroves and to encourage reforestation
in coastal Asia for the well-being of the entire subcontinent.
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