Correct Answer : 26th July
International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem is observed every year on July 26 to raise awareness of the importance of mangrove ecosystems as “a unique, special and vulnerable ecosystem”. Mangroves contribute to the wellbeing, food security, and protection of coastal communities worldwide. Moreover, they support rich biodiversity and act as a habitat for fish and crustaceans.
“Mangrove” is a combination of the Portuguese word “Mangue” and the English word “grove”. Mangroves are salt-tolerant plants of tropical and subtropical intertidal regions of the world. The specific regions where these plants occur are termed as ‘mangrove ecosystem’. These are highly productive but extremely sensitive and fragile. Besides mangroves, the ecosystem also harbours other plant and animal species.
Significance of the day : The goal of the day is to promote sustainable management, conservation and utilisation of mangrove ecosystems and to bring attention to the significance of these ecosystems as unique, special, and vulnerable ecosystems.
History of the day : The
UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) General Conference established the day in 2015. On this day in
1998, a Greenpeace worker named Hayhow Daniel Nanoto passed away from a heart attack while participating in a sizeable demonstration to restore the mangrove wetlands in Muisne, Ecuador..
Source : AIR
