Mangrove cover in the country increases by 16.68 km², reaches 4,991.68 km²: Kirti Vardhan Singh

New Delhi: In a significant boost to India’s coastal ecology, the total mangrove cover in the country has increased by 16.68 km², reaching 4,991.68 km² said, Union Minister Of State For Environment, Forest And Climate Change, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh in Lok Sabha today.

Quoting India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 released by the Forest Survey of India, the Minister said, Mangroves now account for 0.15% of India’s total geographical area, underlining a steady but vital growth in this ecologically sensitive habitat”.

India has recorded a notable increase in its mangrove cover, as revealed by the latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023.

The report, published by the Forest Survey of India, states that the total mangrove cover now stands at 4,991.68 square kilometers, marking an increase of 16.68 km² since ISFR 2019. Mangroves now occupy 0.15% of the country’s total geographical area, underscoring their continuing importance to India’s coastal ecosystems.

This development comes on the heels of the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI), launched by the Government of India on June 5, 2023, as part of the Union Budget 2023–24.

The MISHTI programme aims to restore and expand mangrove ecosystems along the Indian coastline, promoting them as vital natural buffers against climate change, rising sea levels, and coastal erosion.

States such as Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, and Odisha showed the most significant increases in mangrove cover. Andhra Pradesh, in particular, saw a rise of 17.43 km², followed by Odisha with an increase of 8.06 km².

Smaller territories like Puducherry and Daman & Diu also contributed to the national gain. However, some states experienced marginal losses. Gujarat’s mangrove cover declined by 12.94 km², while Maharashtra and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands also reported slight reductions.

To protect these sensitive coastal forests, the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019, under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986, classifies mangroves as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs).

This regulation allows only limited activities within mangrove zones and mandates a 50-meter buffer zone for patches larger than 1,000 square meters. Additionally, if mangroves are impacted by development, the CRZ rules require the replanting of three times the number of trees lost.

Mangrove conservation in India is further supported through various legal frameworks, including the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 (Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam), and respective state laws. Together, these policies provide a strong legal basis for the preservation and expansion of mangrove ecosystems.

With initiatives like MISHTI and increasing environmental awareness, India is taking a proactive role in restoring one of its most vital natural ecosystems.