Schemes for Restoration of Mangrove Forests: The promotional measures are being implemented under National Coastal Mission Programme of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change

Mangrove forests have more capacity to store carbon, provide breeding grounds for marine biodiversity and support global fish populations. The Government has taken a number of steps to protect and enhance mangrove forests in coastal States/Union Territories through promotional as well as regulatory measures. The promotional measures are being implemented through a Central Sector Scheme namely ‘Conservation and Management of Mangroves and Coral Reefs’ under National Coastal Mission Programme of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.

Regulatory measures are implemented through 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.

Union Budget 2023-24 announced ‘Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI)’ to promote and conserve mangroves as unique, natural eco-system having very high biological productivity and carbon sequestration potential, besides working as a bio shield. Accordingly, MISHTI was launched by Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change on the occasion of World Environment Day i.e., 5^th June 2023. Further, Operational Guidelines for implementation of MISHTI activities have been prepared and circulated to the States for preparation of plans. MISHTI envisages restoration/reforestation of Mangroves covering approximately 540 km², spreading across 9 States and 3 Union Territories for a period of five years commencing 2023-24 onwards. The States have also been encouraged to take activities under MISHTI through convergence with the existing schemes/programs. Overall, the mangrove cover of the country witnessed an increase of 252 km² between 2015 to 2021.

This information was given by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.