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UID: SDG-14-20240822-IN-14
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The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global objectives established by the United Nations in 2015 to address pressing global challenges. SDG 14, “Life Below Water,” focuses on conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth’s surface and are vital for supporting life, regulating the climate, and providing resources such as food, medicine, and energy. SDG 14 aims to protect marine ecosystems, combat ocean pollution, and ensure the sustainable use of marine resources. Oceans are facing unprecedented challenges from pollution, overfishing, habitat destruction, and climate change. These threats endanger marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of billions of people who depend on healthy oceans. Global efforts are needed to restore and protect marine ecosystems.
Among the coastal states, there’s significant variation in water quality and environmental conditions. The Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), an indicator of organic pollution in water, ranges from 0.39 in Odisha (indicating good water quality) to 1.99 in Maharashtra (suggesting higher pollution levels). Total Nitrogen (TN) levels, another measure of water quality, are highest in Odisha at 65, while Goa has the lowest at 20.12 among the states with available data.
Mangrove coverage, crucial for coastal ecosystems, shows both positive and negative trends. Gujarat and Maharashtra have seen increases in mangrove area (3.25% and 5.26% respectively), which is encouraging for biodiversity and coastal protection. However, Tamil Nadu has experienced a significant decrease of 8.16% in mangrove area, which could be a cause for concern.
Marine acidity, measured by pH levels, is relatively consistent across the reported coastal states, ranging from 7.97 to 8.14. This suggests that severe ocean acidification is not yet a major issue in these areas, but continued monitoring is crucial given the global trends of increasing ocean acidity due to climate change.
The potential for aquaculture development varies widely among states. West Bengal shows the highest potential with 63.88% of its coastal area available for aquaculture development, followed by Odisha at 41.73%. In contrast, Goa has the lowest potential at only 1.45%. This variation could be due to differences in coastal geography, existing land use, and environmental regulations.
It’s noteworthy that some states with long coastlines, such as Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, have no data reported across all categories. This gap in data could hinder comprehensive national-level analysis and policy-making for coastal management.
Overall, the data reveals a complex picture of India’s coastal environments, with varying levels of water quality, mangrove conservation efforts, and aquaculture potential across different states. While some areas show positive trends, others face challenges that may require targeted interventions to achieve the goals of SDG 14. The significant data gaps for many states also highlight the need for more comprehensive and consistent monitoring of marine and coastal ecosystems across India.
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