Gaurika Gautam and Vedika Gautam are behind Mangrove Protectors, which brings interactive workshops to schools and camps across the United Arab Emirates and India about the magic world of mangroves.
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Mangroves are special types of trees and shrubs with entangled roots that grow along coastal shorelines, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. They are unique because they can survive in salty water, where most plants cannot live. They help in protecting the shoreline while supporting rich marine life and biodiversity.
Some key features of mangroves are:
The largest mangrove forest in the world is the Sundarbans, straddling the border between Bangladesh and India and spanning 10,000 square kilometers.
Mangrove trees’ sturdy root systems form a natural barrier against violent storm surges and floods. In addition to protecting coastlines, roots slow erosion by capturing sediment from rivers and land. This filtering process also prevents harmful sediment from reaching coral reefs and seagrass meadows.
Coastal forests help the fight against global warming by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, most of which is stored within the plant.
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For animal feed, locals collect mangrove leaves and plant extracts for their medicinal properties. The forest waters provide local fishermen with a rich supply of fish, crabs, and shellfish to sell.
Forests provide an ideal environment for activities like sports fishing, kayaking and birdwatching tours, often located near coral reefs and sandy beaches. It is important to keep a balance between protecting forests’ delicate ecosystems and maintaining visitor numbers. Mangroves can be protected by ecotourism, if it is held at a sustainable level, rather than cleared for mass tourism development.
A vast variety of wildlife lives or breeds in the mangrove ecosystem, including fish, crab and shrimp species, molluscs, and mammals like sea turtles. Trees are home to an array of nesting, breeding, and migratory birds.
But that’s not all there is to it. Mangrove forests also contain undiscovered biological materials that could benefit mankind, such as antibacterial compounds and pest-resistant genes.
Mangrove clearance impacts a wide range of species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List shows that of 68,574 invertebrate’s species, 8,374 were on the brink of extinction.
We are Mangrove protectors, cofounded by Gaurika Gautam & Vedika Gautam. Over the past year, we have been empowering young people across the United Arab Emirates and India through dynamic, interactive sessions on mangrove conservation.
We have reached some 1,300 students through more than 20 workshops with schools and camps. Our workshops blend engaging discussions with hands-on activities, helping youth connect the value of mangroves to their own communities and future.
Beyond the classroom, our website serves as a hub for learning and action, providing powerful steps for anyone to protect mangroves and offering insights, updates, and conservation stories. We also have Nurturing Mangrove Community Ambassadors, passionate individuals driving change in their local communities.
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