Senior scientist Dr. M.S. Swaminathan has called for a below sea level farming and conservation of salt tolerant halophytes.

“Nearly 40 million Indians will be at risk from the rising sea level by 2050. Mumbai and Kolkata will be the worst affected,” he said,quoting a report.

Pointing out that during the 2004 tsunami and the 1999 Odisha super cyclone,the mangrove bioshelds saved many lives, he said families along the coastal areas have started protecting the mangrove forests.

Referring to a study that showed Bimaru in Papua New Guinea and Bhitarkanika in Odisha have largest genetic resources of mangroves, Dr. Swaminathan said steps have been taken to conserve and utilise them effectively.

“A third area which was attended to as part of the anticipatory research programme was promoting below sea level farming and conservation of salt tolerant halophytes,” he said, adding “a genetic garden of halophytes was established at Vedaranyam and also an international centre for below sea level farming was set up by the Kerala government at Moncompu in Kuttanad.”