Blue Carbon Ecosystems
Why it matters?
Mangroves offer immense ecological and economic value. Technological mapping, community-led conservation, and citizen science are essential for sustainable future. Reimagining mangroves as climate infrastructure is key to building resilient coasts and inclusive economies.
What you should know?
Mangroves are salt-tolerant plant species found in intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical coasts.
India has about 4,975 sq km of mangrove cover which is the 4th largest in the World (India State of Forest Report 2021), which is 0.15% of the country’s total geographical area.
The largest mangrove forest in India is the Sundarbans in West Bengal (42.45%), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ramsar Wetland.
Major mangrove areas in India are found in West Bengal, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Kerala, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Indian mangroves support rich biodiversity, including endangered species like Royal Bengal Tiger, Saltwater Crocodile, Gangetic Dolphin, and numerous migratory birds.
Legal protection provided for mangroves:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) oversees mangrove conservation in India under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Conservation and Management of Mangroves.
Mangroves are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (for certain species) and under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 (for habitat regulation).
Mangroves are included in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2011, and any development in their vicinity is strictly regulated.
Mangroves are considered biodiversity hotspots and are protected under provisions of Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
Indian Forest Act, 1927 provides for the legal classification and protection of forests, including mangrove forest lands notified as Reserved or Protected Forests by state governments.
India is a member of the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) launched at COP27, aimed at enhancing mangrove protection and restoration.