Lok Sabha Question No. 3602 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-11
Subject: Setting up of Mangrove Forest
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Dr. M K Vishnu Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3602

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025

## Setting up of Mangrove Forest

## 3602.   DR. M K VISHNU PRASAD:

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

- (a) the  steps  taken  to  increase  forest  area  in  Tamil  Nadu,  particularly  in  Cuddalore district;
- (b) the number of acres of forest cover in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu;
- (c) whether any steps taken by the Government to setup mangrove forest in Cuddalore constituency's costal village sides, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of forestation drive like planting trees by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other industrial houses in Tamil Nadu; and
- (e) the  data  of  lands  converted  into  forest  during  the  last  three  years  in  Cuddalore district?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) to  (c) The Ministry supports afforestation and eco-restoration activities in all States and Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, through various schemes and programmes. In addition, there are several State/UT-funded schemes that specifically support afforestation and eco-restoration efforts. Based on the inputs received from the State of Tamil Nadu, the Government of Tamil Nadu launched the Green Tamil Nadu Mission in 2021-22 with the objective of increasing the tree and forest cover from 23.71% to 33% of the State's geographical area within 10 years. The mission focuses on enhancing biodiversity, forest productivity, trees on farmlands,  urban  and  peri-urban  greenery,  green  employment,  and  farmers' incomes.  Over  the  last  three  years  (2022-23  to  2024-25),  10.86  crore  seedlings have been planted across  the State  by  the  Tamil  Nadu  Forest  Department,  other government departments, NGOs, and the public. In Cuddalore district, about 54.25 lakh seedlings have been planted through the involvement of various stakeholders

In addition, the following  tree  planting  activities  have  been  carried  out  in Cuddalore. In 2022-23, a 20-hectare mangrove plantation was undertaken in Killai and Pitchavaram Reserve Forests under the NABARD scheme. During 2023-24, 100  hectares  of  degraded  mangrove  area  were  restored  in  Killai  Reserve  Forest under  the  Green  Tamil  Nadu  Mission  (GTM)  Bio-shield  initiative.  In  the  same year, 42,000 Excoecaria agallocha (Thillai) seedlings were planted in linear rows in  Kudikadu  and  Killai  Reserve  Forests  under  the  GTM  Bio-shield.  Further,  in 2024-25, 100 hectares of degraded coastal area in Kodiyambalayam and Melathittu were restored under the GTM Bio-shield programme.

The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has undertaken large-scale mangrove restoration with community involvement. From 2022-23 to 2024-25, 95 hectares of new mangroves were planted under NABARD, GTM, and NHAI schemes using modified  fish-bone  designs.  Additionally,  250  hectares  of  degraded  mangrove forests  were  restored  under  GTM  and  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  (CSS),  and 52,000 mangrove seedlings were planted using linear methods.

The Government has launched the World Bank-funded TN-SHORE / Tamil Nadu Coastal  Restoration  Mission  for  restoring  160  hectares  of  degraded  mangroves through  Village  Mangrove  Councils  (VMCs).  Additionally  the  Department  of Environment and Climate Change is implementing a ₹4.00 crore project (2025-26 to 2027-28) titled 'Creation of Bio-Shield to Prevent the Impact of Sea Level Rise and  Coastal  Erosion  in  Cuddalore  District,'  which  includes  60  hectares  of mangrove plantation and 20 hectares of coastal bio-shield using resilient species.

As  per  the  India  State  of  Forest  Report  (ISFR),  2023  published  by  the  Forest Survey of India, the forest cover in Cuddalore district is 385.48 km² (equivalent to approximately 95,254.2 acres).

- (d) & (e) About 1.19 crore seedlings were planted by NGOs, trusts, and private institutions during  2022-23  to  2024-25.  Major  drives  were  held  on  World  Forestry  Day, World  Mangrove  Day,  Ek  Ped  Maa  Ke  Naam,  GTM  Day,  Harbour  Day,  and similar  occasions.  No  land  was  converted  into  forest  in  the  last  three  years  in Cuddalore.