Mangroves are salt resistant forest ecosystem of tropical and sub-tropical inters tidal areas. They are reserves of a large variety of plants and animal species. These forests grow in areas of high temperature, high humidity and high rainfall.
These forests have a peculiar feature. Their stilt-like roots coming out of the mud banks appear to support the trees in low tide but at high tide these stilt-like roots are submerged.
These trees have a dense growth with climbers covering them. It is difficult to pass through the dense growth. These are known as mangrove forests. Sundri and Passur are famous trees.
These are heavy trees and are used for boat construction, cabinet making, tanning and firewood.
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These forests grow in the deltas of Ganga, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Andaman coast, Gulf of Kutchch, Goa, Coondapore (Karnataka), Achar/Ratnagiri (Maharashtra), Wembanad (Kerala) and Point Calimar (T.N).
The main requirements are the availability of muddy and swampy conditions as are usually found in swampy islands near the deltas. They are called Sunderbans in the ganga delta.