| 1 | Gulf of Mannar marine biosphere reserve.Part 1 deals with flora only. "Biosphere Reserves are protected areas of representative environment," the Gulf of Mannar is one of the Marine Biosphere Reserve (GOMMBRE) situated along the coastline of east coast of India and Sri lanka. It is covering an area of 10,500 sq. km. and included 21 islands. The Gulf of Mannar is one of the biologically richest and important habitat for sea algae, seagrass, coral reef pearl banks, sacred chank bed, fin and shell fish resources, mangrove endemic and endangered species. Nearly 3,600 species of flora and fauna are represented here. The 21 islands and Gulf of Mannar are declared as marine national park in 1986 for the purpose of protecting marine wild life and its environment by Government of India and state of Tamil Nadu. Objectives of GOMMBRE, bio-physical environmental features, important fauna and flora, management strategy and infrastructural facilities are discussed Source: Upreti, A.; Shanmugaraj, T. 1997; 47; pp. 1007.
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