Indian Mangrove (Avicennia officinalis)

• Scientific Name: Avicennia officinalis — Indian Mangrove or Indian White Mangrove.

• Native Home: India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and northern and eastern Australia.

• Height: Typically 8–18 m, sometimes reaching 25 m.

• Lifespan: Several decades under favorable coastal conditions.

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Uses and Harvesting

• Timber: Durable wood traditionally used for fuel, house construction, wharf posts, and small boats.

• Harvesting: Wood and bark have historically been collected for local uses and tannins. Harvesting must follow local mangrove-protection regulations.

• Age to Harvest: No universal commercial harvest age; growth depends on salinity, tidal conditions, and site productivity.

• Products: Timber, fuelwood, traditional tannin materials, and coastal-restoration seedlings.

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History and Global Production

• Traditional Use: Coastal communities have used its wood for construction and fuel, while its bark has been valued as a source of tannins.

• Global Spread: Common in South and Southeast Asian mangrove forests, including India's coastal estuaries and tidal mudflats. Its upright breathing roots help it survive in oxygen-poor, waterlogged soil.