Lok Sabha Question No. 3259 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-13
Subject: Mangrove Forests
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Rajendra Agrawal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3259

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.03.2020

## Mangrove Forests

## 3259.  SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken steps to protect mangrove forests in various regions  of  the  country,  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor;
- (b)      whether there has been an increase or decrease in the density of such mangrove forests  in  past  two  years,  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken  to redress the same;
- (c)      whether the Government is collaborating with foreign specialists, environmental bodies  and  NGOs  to  rejuvenate  the  mangrove  forests  and,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d)        whether  the  Government  has  set  any  target  or  deadline  to  complete  such rejuvenation projects, and if so, the steps taken to achieve the same; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  collaborating  with  various  State  Governments  for protection of mangrove forests and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO )

(a), (b) & (e) The Government has been taking steps to protect and enhance mangrove forests  in  the  country  through  promotional  as  well  as  regulatory  measures.  The promotional measures are being implemented through  a Central Sector Scheme under National  Coastal  Mission  Programme  on  conservation  and  management  of  mangroves and  coral  reefs.  Under  this  programme,  annual  Management  Action  Plan  (MAP)  for conservation and management of mangroves are formulated and implemented in all the coastal States and Union Territories.

Regulatory measures are implemented through Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification  (2019)  under  the  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986;  the  Wild  Life (Protection) Act, 1972; the Indian Forest Act, 1927; the Biological Diversity Act, 2002; and rules under these acts as amended from time to time.

The  Forest  Survey  of  India  (FSI)  assessed  Mangrove  Cover  of  the  country  in  three density  classes  i.e.  very  Dense,  Moderately  Dense  and  Open  Mangrove  Cover  on biennial basis and publishes the findings in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR). As per the ISFR 2019, the mangrove cover in the country has increased by 54 sq. km. in year 2019 as compared to the mangrove cover assessed in year 2017.

(c)  &  (d)  The  Ministry  piloted  the  World  Bank  assisted  Integrated  Coastal  Zone Management  (ICZM)  Project  in  identified  coastal  stretches  of  the  Gulf  of  Kutch  in Gujarat; Gopalpur -Chilika and Dhamra- Pradeep, in Odisha; and Digha-Shankarpur & Sagar  Island  in  West  Bengal  with  a purpose  of  protecting  and  conserving  coastal  and marine environment and sustainable development of these areas.

The  ICZM  Project  having  two  components  namely  National  Component  and  State Component.  The  State  components  are  being  implemented  by  three  partner  State Governments. The conservation and protection of coastal resources is one of the major sub-components of the ICZM Project, under which plantation of mangrove is one major activity under State components of the project.

****