Restoring mangroves can turn the tide on India’s coastal security

Background: What Are Mangroves?

• Definition: Mangroves are salt-tolerant, forested wetlands found in tropical and subtropical coastal zones.
• Unique Feature: Survive in saline, intertidal zones with low oxygen levels through specialized roots (e.g., pneumatophores).
• Global Context: Mangroves are part of “blue carbon ecosystems” — sequester CO₂ in soil, roots, and biomass.

Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology)

Ecological & Social Significance of Mangroves in India

• Disaster Risk Reduction:
  • Act as natural shields during cyclones, storm surges, and tsunamis.
  • Example: 2004 Tsunami — areas with mangrove cover had reduced damage and mortality.
• Biodiversity Hotspots:
  • Habitat for fish, crustaceans, molluscs, insects, and migratory birds.
  • Support local food chains and aquatic biodiversity.
• Carbon Sequestration:
  • Store blue carbon—far more per unit area than terrestrial forests.
  • Key tool in India’s climate mitigation efforts under the Paris Agreement.
• Livelihoods & Culture:
  • Source of livelihoods for coastal communities — e.g., honey gathering (Sundarbans), fishing, and eco-tourism.
  • Integral to indigenous knowledge and traditional resource use.

Key Threats to Mangroves

• Urban Expansion: Coastal infrastructure, ports, and real estate projects (e.g., Mumbai, Chennai).
• Aquaculture: Shrimp farming and commercial fisheries degrade soil, alter salinity.
• Pollution: Plastic, sewage, and industrial effluents reduce regeneration capacity.
• Climate Change:
  • Rising sea levels → prolonged submergence.
  • Changing rainfall and salinity disrupt growth cycles.
• IUCN Warning: Over 50% of global mangroves may collapse by 2050 without urgent action.

 India’s Mangrove Landscape

• Total Area: ~4,900 sq. km (India State of Forest Report 2021).
• Major States: West Bengal (Sundarbans), Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra.
• Highest Coverage: Gujarat (23.6% of India’s mangrove area).

State-Level Success Stories

Tamil Nadu

• Problem: Degradation due to shrimp farming, pollution, disrupted hydrology.
• Progress:
  • Mangrove cover doubled from 4,500 to 9,000 hectares (2021–2024).
  • Green Tamil Nadu Mission: Focused restoration in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Cuddalore.
• Notable Projects:
  • Muthupettai Estuary (2017): 115 ha restored by MSSRF + local committees.
    • 19 canals dug, 4.3 lakh Avicennia seeds, 6,000 Rhizophora propagules planted.
  • Chennai (Kazhipattur, 2024):
    • 12,500 seedlings from 5 species planted.
    • Invasive Prosopis juliflora removed to restore native vegetation.

Maharashtra (Mumbai)

• Project: 2025 Amazon–BMC–Hasten Regeneration collaboration on Thane Creek.
• Funding: $1.2 million (₹10.3 crore).
• Features:
  • 3.75 lakh mangroves planted, targeting flamingo habitat.
  • Plastic cleanup: Trash booms to intercept 150 tonnes of waste.
  • Livelihood Support: Women employed in plantation and maintenance.

Gujarat

• Programme: Central government’s MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes).
• Achievements:
  • 19,000+ hectares planted (2023–2025).
  • Exceeded 5-year national target early.
• Focus Areas: Coastal Kutch and Saurashtra.
• Goals: Enhance climate resilience, ecotourism, and blue carbon goals.

Policy and Institutional Support

• Green Tamil Nadu Mission: State-led restoration with scientific collaboration.
• MISHTI (2023):
  • Central initiative for large-scale mangrove plantation.
  • Emphasis on livelihood-linked restoration.
• Corporate Partnerships:
  • Example: Amazon’s “Right Now Climate Fund” supports climate-smart restoration with social co-benefits.
• Role of Research Institutions:
  • M.S. Swaminathan Foundation, ATREE, and other NGOs play a vital role in site assessment, community engagement, and ecological planning.

Key Takeaways for Policy

• Mangroves = Natural Infrastructure:
  • Should be prioritized in National Adaptation Plans and State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs).
• Community-led Conservation:
  • Success hinges on involving local communities, Panchayats, and women’s groups.
• Nature-Based Solutions (NbS):
  • Restoration with co-benefits for biodiversity, carbon, and livelihoods is emerging as a key approach.
• India’s Global Role:
  • As a megadiverse nation, India’s success in mangrove conservation enhances its voice in UNFCCC, CBD, and blue economy platforms.