Tamil Nadu has a coastline of 950 km. Extensive mangrove wetlands are located in two places – in Pichavaram,
Cuddalore districts and Muthupet in Thiruvarur and Thanjavur districts. Small patches of mangroves have also
been found along the Palk Strait as well as in some of the islands of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve. All these mangrove wetlands have been declared as Reserve Forests (absolute property of the government) and are managed by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department.