The coast is a rich and dynamic region, constantly receiving inputs from terrestrial and marine domains. It is also a region that is vulnerable to pressures from human population and development projects. This is specifically true of its intertidal region that holds diverse habitats. The rocky shores, rock pools, sandy shores, sand dunes, mudflats, mangroves, seagrass beds and coral/reef patches, all with rich assemblages of flora and fauna, are often neglected while planning human development. .
There are enough case studies to show that most projects along the coastlines pose a threat to the unevenly explored habitats. Maharashtra's coastline is no exception to this. Popularly known as the Konkan coast, the region harbours diverse geomorphology and nurtures thousands of poorly known vertebrate and invertebrate species.
Extensive surveys carried out by BNHS along the coast over several years brought to focus the neglect faced by the region. As a first step in mainstreaming the intertidal habitats and developing effective conservation strategies, BNHS identified 16 Ecologically Important Marine and Coastal Biodiversity Areas (EIMCBAs). CoMBAT is the second step in the effort, where data collated from the EIMCBAs have been stacked under a single platform to help visualize the ecological scenario of the coast in simple and readable terms. The platform holds a mirror to the diverse intertidal systems and the species, including those globally threatened, that are found in the EIMCBAs and the terrestrial zones of the adjoining shorelines.
