The Government has taken a number of steps to protect and enhance mangrove forests in coastal States/Union Territories through regulatory and promotional measures. The regulatory measures include Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification (2019) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972; the Indian Forest Act, 1927; the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and rules under these acts as amended from time to time.

The promotional measures include “Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI)” – a new programme launched by the Government of India on 5^th June 2023, in collaboration with coastal States and Union Territories to restore and promote mangroves for preserving and enhancing the sustainability of the coastal ecosystem and habitats.

The objective of MISHTI is to restore/afforestation of mangroves covering approximately 540 km², spreading across 9 coastal States and 4 Union Territories.  Implementation of MISHTI initiative is through convergence with gap funding provided through National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

Financial support of ₹17.96 Crore has been released from CAMPA to the States of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Odisha, West Bengal, and UT of Puducherry for restoration of degraded mangrove area in the financial year 2024-2025.

India's total mangrove cover stands at 4,991.68 km², making up 0.15% of the country's total geographical area as per India State of Forest Report 2023 ((ISFR-2023). West Bengal has the highest mangrove coverage, accounting for 42.45%, followed by Gujarat at 23.66% and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands at 12.39%. The mangrove cover in Gujarat has increased by 253.06 km² between 2001 and 2023, as per ISFR-2023. The effective implementation of regulatory and promotional measures has yielded an increase of mangrove cover in Gujarat, which includes large-scale plantation initiatives through successful Public-Private Partnership along with active community engagement and effective protection measures.

This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE, SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

*****

VM

(Rajya Sabha US Q379)