World has much to gain from India’s experience in mangrove conservation: Bhupender yadav at COP28

Dubai: India has committed to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030 said Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav.

Making a statement at the Ministerial meeting of the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) at COP28, Bhupender Yadav said in Budget 2023-24, the Indian government, building on India’s success in afforestation, rolled out the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes(MISHTI).

India became a Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) member, initiated by the UAE and Indonesia, during COP 27 in Egypt.

MISHTI will provide ecological co-benefits in terms of indirect economic growth worth Rs. 51.78 billion per year, and additional carbon sink is estimated to be about 4.5 million tons in the 10-year horizon.

Under this scheme, mangrove plantations along the coastline and on salt pans are being taken up, and contributions will help India achieve its NDC target.

The Minister said, “India has adopted a holistic approach towards conservation. We are focused on reducing emissions to tackle temperature rise and working towards arresting land degradation, accelerating ecosystem restoration, and enriching biodiversity”.

“The value of biodiversity to humankind also lies in its economic dimension alongside the cultural and social aspects” Yadav added.

Highlighting the steps to grow the Mangrove plantation, the Minister said, “Gujarat, which has the second highest mangrove cover in the country, has shown an improvement in mangrove cover of over 250 square kilometers from 2001 to 2021”.

“The mangrove ecosystem in India offers a unique example of existing in harmony with nature. The Sunderbans, lying along eastern India, offer the largest contiguous mangrove forest in the world. Interestingly, the Sundarban mangroves are the only mangrove habitat for tigers worldwide. The Sundarban is of critical importance for dolphins, crocodiles the critically endangered turtles and also the people who live in the region” he said.

Yadav said, “The world has much to gain from India’s experience in mangrove conservation because we have shown expertise in the area for nearly five decades. India has restored different types of mangrove ecosystems…adding that we cannot only conserve, preserve, and restore. We must also promote sustainable use to address the developmental aspirations of our people”.

“In addition, mangroves also help with natural coastal protection for adaptation of local communities against the increasing frequency of cyclones and erosion. Moreover, Restoration, Conservation, and Management of Forest Cover including mangrove forests are one of the elements of India’s Long-Term Low Carbon Development Strategy” he added.