Mangroves: India’s Coastal Shield is Growing Stronger
🌿 Mangroves: India’s Coastal Shield is Growing Stronger 🌿 In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Union MoS for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, shared a promising update on India’s mangrove conservation journey. As per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 , India’s total mangrove cover stands at 4,991.68 km² , showing a net gain of 16.68 km² since 2019. This is a significant indicator of progress, especially in the face of rapid coastal development and climate threats. The recently launched MISHTI scheme (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes), announced in Budget 2023-24 and rolled out on World Environment Day 2023 , aims to restore degraded mangrove areas and promote afforestation along India’s coastlines. This initiative not only contributes to biodiversity but also empowers local livelihoods—truly a win-win model. 🔹 Under the CRZ Notification 2019 , mangroves are designated as Ecologically Sensitive Ar...