Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 2001, in India. The Gulf of Mannar, endowed with three distinct coastal ecosystems (coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves) is considered one of the world’s richest regions from a marine biodiversity perspective. It is known for its unique biological wealth and is a storehouse of marine diversity of global significance. The gulf’s 4,223 species of plants and animals, ranging from primitive to higher forms, make it one of the richest coastal regions in India. Most of the islands have luxuriant mangrove growth on their shorelines and in swampy areas. The sea bottom of the inshore area around the islands is carpeted with seagrass beds, which serve as an ideal feeding ground for the dugong (Dugong dugon), an endangered herbivorous marine mammal. Highly productive fringing and patch coral reefs surround the islands and are often referred to as an underwater tropical rainforest and a treasure house for marine biodiversity, particularly ornamental marine fishes. The occurrence of these specialised ecosystems makes the Gulf of Mannar a unique large marine ecosystem in the Indian subcontinent.