5. Seagrass and Salt Marsh Ecosystems in South Asia: An Overview of Diversity, Distribution, Threats and Conservation Status

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives have extensive coastal and marine ecosystems. Seagrass beds and salt marshes are coastal ecosystems restricted to the subtidal and intertidal zone ranging from shallow water in the case of seagrass to the high upland of intertidal zone in case of salt marsh. The chapter provides an overview of the salt marsh and seagrass ecosystems in India and other South Asian countries. Despite their significant ecological importance, seagrass and salt marsh ecosystems are relatively under-explored or unexplored, particularly in the South Asian countries. Fifteen species of seagrass are reported from South Asian region, all of which are found in India. They are distributed along the coastal states/union territories except Maharashtra, Daman and Diu, Puducherry and West Bengal. The salt marsh species diversity in India and the Maldives is not reported. The chapter provides checklist of salt marshes of India, represented by 14 species, which are distributed along Gujarat, Daman and Diu, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.