Schemes for Restoration of Mangrove Forests

  • February 6, 2024
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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Schemes for Restoration of Mangrove Forests

Subject: Environment

Section: Ecosystem

Context:

  • Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply in the Lok Sabha , told about various schemes for conservation of mangrove forests.

About Mangroves:

  • Mangroves are the plant communities occurring in inter-tidal zones along the coasts of tropical and subtropical countries.
  • Mangrove forests perform multiple ecological functions such as production of woody trees; provision of habitat, food, and spawning grounds for fin-fish and shellfish; provision of habitat for birds and other valuable fauna; protection of coastlines and accretion of sediment to form new land.
  • Mangrove plants have several unique adaptations that allow them to survive in harsh environments. Mangroves are extremely important to the coastal ecosystems they inhabit.
  • Mangrove Forests trees project different types of roots:
    • Prop – They are down into the water
    • Air – They are vertically configured up from the mud
    • Stilt – These roots emerge from the main trunk of the tree; also called adventitious roots.
  • There are three important types of mangroves:
    • Red mangroves: They grow along coastlines and are the hardiest of the three major mangrove plant types.
    • Black mangroves: They are named so because of their dark bark. They usually grow at slightly higher elevations than red mangroves. They have access to more oxygen because the roots are more exposed.
    • White mangroves: They grow at higher elevations than red and black mangroves. Generally they do not have aerial roots. But sometimes there is unique growth of peg roots when oxygen is depleted due to flooding.
  • 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.

Presence of Mangroves:

  • About 40% of the world’s mangrove cover is found in South East Asia and South Asia.
  • India has about 3% of the total Mangrove cover in South Asia.
  • Mangrove cover in the country has increased by 54 sq km (1.10%) as compared to the previous assessment.
  • The current assessment shows that mangrove cover in the country is 4,975 sq km [(1.2 million acres)], which is 0.15% of the country’s total geographical area.
  • West Bengal has 42.45% of India’s mangrove cover, followed by Gujarat 23.66% and A&N Islands 12.39%. 
  • Gujarat shows a maximum increase of 37 sq km in mangrove cover [(over 9,000 acres).
  • South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal alone accounts for 41.85% mangrove cover of the country.
  • South 24 Parganas holds the Sunderban National Park, home to one of the largest mangrove forests in the world.

Schemes for conservation of Mangroves:

Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI)

  • Union Budget 2023-24 announced ‘Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI)’ to promote and conserve mangroves as a unique, natural ecosystem having very high biological productivity and carbon sequestration potential, besides working as a bio shield.
  • MISHTI was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change on the occasion of World Environment Day i.e., 5th June 2023. 
  • 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.

Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC):

  • The UAE and Indonesia launched the “Mangrove Alliance for Climate” on the sidelines of the UN climate summit COP27, being held in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.
  • As part of this alliance, an international mangrove research center will be established in Indonesia which will conduct studies on mangrove ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and ecotourism.
  • Partners:
    • Spearheaded by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in partnership with Indonesia, India, Australia, Japan, Spain and Sri Lanka have joined it as partners.
Environment Schemes for Restoration of Mangrove Forests