Maharashtra first Indian state to declare state mangrove tree

• Maharashtra is set to become the first Indian state to declare a state mangrove tree species as a symbol to enhance conservation of the salt-tolerant vegetation.
• The proposal from the state mangrove cell to declare Sonneratia alba or mangrove apple, as state mangrove tree was approved during a meeting of the recently constituted State Board of Wildlife (SBWL).

Characteristics of Sonneratia alba :- 

• Known as white chippi in Marathi
• grow up to five feet and bear white flowers with a pink base as well as green fruits, that resemble apple 
• used to make pickles
• play an important role in combating land erosion
• They often grow on newly-formed mudflats 
• The flowers, which bloom at night, are pollinated by nocturnal creatures like bats

Do you know?

Maharashtra already has the state tree (mango), state animal (giant squirrel), state bird (green pigeon), state butterfly (Blue Mormon), and state flower (jarul).

Maharashtra first Indian state to declare state mangrove tree