UPSC Prelims 2026 Q23: Mangroves and Climate Resilience — Explained

Which of the following best explain(s) the rationale for protecting mangrove ecosystems in the context of climate resilience?

1. Mangroves reduce tidal energy and store freshwater, making them ideal sites for paddy cultivation in saline estuarine belts.

2. Their salt-sensitive roots filter seawater, making mangroves key to converting coastal land into freshwater aquaculture zones.

3. By withstanding tidal surges and offering biomass resources, mangroves function both as natural bio-shields and livelihood bases for rural communities.

1 only
1 and 2
2 and 3
3 only

Answer: (d) 3 only

Statement-wise explanation

1: incorrect — Mangroves do reduce wave and tidal energy. But they do not store freshwater. They are salt-tolerant plants (halophytes) that grow in saline, waterlogged intertidal soil. Clearing mangrove belts for paddy fields is one of the causes of mangrove loss. So paddy cultivation cannot be a reason to protect them, and the statement turns a conservation question into a land-conversion argument.
2: incorrect — Mangrove roots are salt-tolerant, not salt-sensitive. Some species, such as Rhizophora, keep most of the salt out at the root. Others, such as Avicennia, excrete it through salt glands in the leaves. Converting mangrove land into aquaculture ponds, especially shrimp farms, is a leading cause of mangrove destruction. It is not a reason to protect them.
3: correct — Mangroves soften cyclones, storm surges and tidal waves, and their roots hold sediment against coastal erosion. The government describes them as 'bio-shields against extreme climatic events'. They also give coastal communities fish, crab, honey, fuelwood and fodder. The MISHTI scheme, launched on 5 June 2023, is named after these two roles: 'Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes'.

How to eliminate

One basic fact settles this question: mangroves are salt-tolerant. Statement 2 calls their roots 'salt-sensitive', which is clearly wrong, so every option containing 2 goes. Statement 1 says mangroves 'store freshwater', which also contradicts their saline habitat. Now look at the logic of the question. It asks why we should protect mangroves. Statements 1 and 2 describe turning mangrove land into paddy fields and fish ponds, which destroys mangroves. Statement 3 lists the standard textbook benefits: buffering storms and supporting livelihoods. Only one option has 3 alone. A useful pattern: UPSC often builds wrong statements by adding a land-use conversion to a true benefit ("reduce tidal energy… making them ideal for paddy"). Read the second half of every statement carefully.

Know more

Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees and shrubs of the tropical and subtropical intertidal zone. They grow where rivers meet the sea: estuaries, deltas, tidal creeks and mudflats.

How they survive salt and mud

Salt exclusion: some species (e.g., Rhizophora) filter most of the salt out at the root.
Salt excretion: some species (e.g., Avicennia) push salt out through glands in the leaves.
Pneumatophores: roots that grow upward out of the mud to take in air.
Stilt/prop roots: hold the tree up in soft mud.
Vivipary: seeds sprout while still on the parent tree.

Why protect them: ecosystem services

Service	How it works
Bio-shield	Dense roots and canopy slow waves and storm surges and cut erosion
Blue carbon	Store large amounts of carbon, mostly in waterlogged soil
Fisheries nursery	Breeding and nursery ground for fish, prawns and crabs
Livelihoods	Honey, fuelwood, fodder, fishing, ecotourism
Water quality	Trap sediment and pollutants before they reach the sea

India's mangrove cover (ISFR 2023)

4,991.68 sq km, about 0.15% of India's geographical area.
Largest shares: West Bengal (42.45%), Gujarat (23.32%), Andaman & Nicobar Islands (12.19%).
Net gain of 363.68 sq km between 2013 and 2023.
The Sundarbans is the world's largest mangrove forest.

Policy

MISHTI: launched on 5 June 2023. It targets about 540 sq km of mangrove restoration across 9 coastal States and 4 UTs.
Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC): launched at COP27 (2022). India is a member.
Ecosystem-based Adaptation: using mangroves instead of, or alongside, seawalls.

Threats: conversion to aquaculture and agriculture, urban reclamation, reduced freshwater flow, and pollution.

In the news

The theme is largely static. In January 2026, a few months before the exam, a national MISHTI workshop drew attention to the mangrove restoration scheme. MISHTI's full name, 'Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes', matches statement 3's 'bio-shield plus livelihood' framing.

NCERT Concepts to Revise

Mangrove: All three statements turn on how mangroves actually work: salt-tolerant halophytes in saline intertidal soil that blunt tidal energy and support coastal livelihoods.
MISHTI: MISHTI ('Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes', launched 5 June 2023) is named for the two roles that Statement 3 links together: shoreline protection and income.
Blue carbon: Blue carbon (carbon stored in mangrove biomass and waterlogged soils) is another climate reason to protect mangroves, and converting them to paddy or ponds releases it.
Sundarbans: The Sundarbans show how mangroves soften cyclones and support fishing, honey and fuelwood livelihoods, while clearing for paddy and shrimp farms threatens them.