Indian Mangroves: A Photographic Field Identification Guide

India is one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world, yet the taxonomic inventory of its biota is far from complete. The aim of this publication is to identify and describe the mangrove plant species found in India. To achieve this objective, the taxonomic identity and distribution of mangrove species in the country have been revised and described.

During field investigations, each species of mangrove and associated plants were identified and sampled. For each species, description and high-resolution image material are provided, which facilitates easy identification. This information is crucial for coastal management planning and policy development, particularly in relation to shoreline rehabilitation and the expansion of appropriate shoreline livelihood projects in the face of climate change and sea level rise.

Additionally, the global distribution of each mangrove species and its conservation status is presented. Voucher specimens of all the mangrove species discussed in the text have been deposited at CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute in Lucknow (LWG), as well as Annamalai University and regional centers of the Botanical Survey of India, to serve as reference collections for the country.