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Mangrove Revival in India
Efforts to restore mangroves can turn the tide on India’s coastal security
Context: Mangrove forests along India’s coasts—from the Sundarbans to Mumbai—act as critical natural buffers, supporting climate resilience, biodiversity, and local livelihoods. However, urbanisation, pollution, and climate change threaten their existence, even as restoration efforts bring renewed hope.
How can restoring mangrove ecosystems strengthen India’s coastal security?
- Natural Barriers Against Disasters: Mangroves absorb wave energy, reduce storm surges, and prevent coastal erosion. During events like the 2004 tsunami and recurring cyclones, they have saved lives and infrastructure.
- Climate Resilience: These ecosystems store large amounts of blue carbon, helping mitigate climate change by trapping CO₂ in their roots and soils.
- According to the World Wildlife Fund, mangroves store 7.5-10 times more carbon per acre than tropical forests, holding over 21 gigatons of carbon—87% of it in the soil. Their degradation contributes to around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation.
- Biodiversity Protection: Mangroves serve as nurseries for fish, crustaceans, and migratory birds, supporting food security and livelihoods.
- Strategic Infrastructure: In vulnerable regions like Odisha and the Sundarbans, mangroves act as living infrastructure, buffering against rising seas and extreme weather.
What models and recent initiatives are accelerating mangrove restoration across India?
- MISHTI Scheme (2023–2028): The Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) covers 540 sq. km across 9 coastal states and 4 UTs. Focuses on ecological restoration and income generation.
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- Under MISHTI, Gujarat restored around 19,000 hectares in just two years — far ahead of the national five-year target.
- Green Tamil Nadu Mission: Tamil Nadu doubled its mangrove cover from 4,500 to 9,000 hectares between 2021 and 2024.
- Mumbai’s Thane Creek Project: Led by Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund and BMC, the initiative aims to plant around 3.7 lakh mangrove saplings, remove 150 tonnes of plastic waste, and empower women by providing paid opportunities in mangrove restoration work.
- Green India Challenge: Planted 2,000 mangrove saplings. Led by Purbasha Eco Helpline Society and Igniting Minds, with a pledge to plant 1 lakh trees nationwide.
- Global Alliances: India is part of the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) launched at COP27, promoting restoration as climate adaptation.
Why is local community participation critical for long‑term mangrove regeneration?
- Traditional knowledge: Locals understand tidal flows, species behaviour, and seasonal changes.
- Ownership and monitoring: Community-led efforts ensure long-term care and vigilance.
- Livelihood integration: Projects like crab farming, honey collection, and eco-tourism provide sustainable income. Women’s SHGs (Navghar, Maharashtra) led crab farming and mangrove protection, boosting year-round employment.
The Community-Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration (CBEMR) model emphasises restoring natural hydrology and biodiversity, not just planting trees. It transforms passive participation into active stewardship
What challenges and policy measures shape India’s mangrove conservation landscape?
Challenges Identified:
- Overharvesting & Land Conversion: Logging, agriculture, aquaculture (especially shrimp farming), and urban expansion have cleared vast mangrove areas.
- Coastal Squeeze: Urban infrastructure blocks mangroves from migrating inland, leaving no “accommodation space” for vertical or lateral growth.
- Climate Change: Rising sea levels submerge low-lying mangrove zones. Increased cyclonic activity damages root systems and erodes coastlines. Shifts in precipitation affect salinity and nutrient balance.
Policy Measures in Place:
- Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019: Classifies mangroves as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs); mandates a 50m buffer zone and 3:1 compensatory replantation.
- National Coastal Mission: Supports 38 mangrove sites with approximately ₹8.6 crore funding (2021–23).
- GCF-ECRICC Project: Green Climate Fund-backed initiative active in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha. Aims to restore about 10,500 hectares; over 3,100 hectares restored as of 2024.
