Which of the following best explain(s) the rationale for protecting mangrove ecosystems in the context of climate resilience ? 1. Mangroves reduce tidal energy and store freshwater, making them ideal sites for paddy cultivation in saline estuarine belts. 2. Their salt-sensitive roots filter seawater, making mangroves key to converting coastal land into freshwater aquaculture zones. 3. By withstanding tidal surges and offering biomass resources, mangroves function both as natural bio-shields and livelihood bases for rural communities. Select the answer using the code given below :
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 2
- (c) 2 and 3
- (d) 3 only ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• Mangroves are protected for climate resilience because their dense roots and trunks dissipate wave and storm-surge energy, shielding coasts from cyclones and erosion.
• They also supply fish nurseries, fuelwood, honey and fodder, so they underpin coastal livelihoods; statement 3 captures both the bio-shield and livelihood roles and is correct.
• Statement 1 is wrong: mangroves are salt-tolerant and do not 'store freshwater'; their swamps are not sites for paddy, and clearing them for cultivation is what conservation seeks to prevent.
• Statement 2 is wrong: mangrove roots are salt-excluding or salt-excreting, not 'salt-sensitive', and they do not turn coastal land into freshwater aquaculture zones — shrimp farming has in fact destroyed mangroves.
• Hence 3 only.
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 only
- Statement 1 misdescribes mangroves as freshwater-storing paddy sites.
- (b) 1 and 2
- Both 1 and 2 misstate mangrove ecology; neither supports conservation.
- (c) 2 and 3
- Statement 2 is wrong: mangrove roots are salt-tolerant, not salt-sensitive filters.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026, held on 24 May 2026. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.