A recent study conducted by researchers at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency of the Maldives has identified climate variability and localised sea level changes as the primary causes of a mass mangrove dieback in the island nation. The findings, published in the Regional Environmental Change journal, shed light on the alarming decline of Bruguiera cylindrica, a mangrove species vital to the ecological and socio-economic fabric of many Maldivian islands.
The dieback, observed between March 2020 and March 2021, was characterised by the progressive death of mangrove trees from the tips downward. The research attributes the phenomenon to increased soil salinity driven by prolonged droughts, higher atmospheric temperatures, and climatic anomalies including the triple La Niña event and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole. These conditions, compounded by localised sea level fluctuations, created an environment unsuitable for the survival of salt-sensitive mangrove species.
The affected mangroves are distributed across at least 150 islands, many of which lie less than a metre above sea level. These ecosystems provide essential services to local communities, including food resources, timber for boat construction, materials for coir production, and spaces for spiritual and recreational activities. The dieback has therefore had a direct impact on both biodiversity and livelihoods.
The Maldivian government reached out to Indian researchers in 2020 to investigate the phenomenon, initiating a joint study under an India-Maldives research programme coordinated by the Indian High Commission in Malé. The researchers conducted ecological assessments and community surveys across impacted islands to map the extent of the dieback and gather insights on its socio-economic implications.
Recommendations put forward in the study include community-based restoration programmes, enhancement of environmental legislation, and the expansion of marine protected areas. The researchers also advocate for the planting of salt-tolerant mangrove species such as Lumnitzera racemosa, alongside focused conservation efforts to rehabilitate Bruguiera cylindrica populations.
The study highlights the vulnerability of small island nations like the Maldives to climate-related stressors and calls for international cooperation in safeguarding mangrove ecosystems. These coastal forests serve as biodiversity hotspots, natural carbon sinks, and buffers against sea level rise—making their protection increasingly urgent in a warming world.
