Lok Sabha Question No. 175 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-04
Subject: Mangrove Plantation
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Bhartruhari Mahtab, E. T. Mohammed Basheer, Bhola Singh, Sukanta Majumdar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 175

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2023

## Mangrove Plantation

## 175. SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB: SHRI E.T. MOHAMMED BASHEER: SHRI BHOLA SINGH: DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR :

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

- (a) the details of the survey conducted, if any, on the ecological viability of wetlands in the country and steps taken to preserve these wetlands;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any study/studies regarding the impact/assessment of climate change on wetlands and other such eco-sensitive areas in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is implementing 'Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes' (MISHTI) for mangrove plantation along the coastline and on salt pan lands;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has been able to achieve its aims and objectives of the policy, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the steps taken by Government to increase the area of mangrove plantations, Statewise, during the last year?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND

CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a)  &  (b) A  satellite  based  survey  was  carried  out  by  Space  Applications  Centre-  ISRO Ahmedabad  under  National  Wetland Inventory  and  Assessment  (NWIA)  programme  and "National Wetland Decadal Change Atlas, 2017 was published. It is estimated that there are about 2,31,195 wetlands (at Scale of 1:50000 and area more than or equal to 2.25 ha) in the Country. These  include  lakes/ponds,  ox-bow  lakes,  high  altitude  &  riverine  wetlands, waterlogged  areas,  rivers/  streams,  tanks,  reservoirs,  lagoons,  creeks,  sand  beaches,  corals, mangroves, mud flats, salt pans, aquaculture ponds, etc.  Some study reports carried out by different institutions/organizations on impact assessment of climate change on wetlands are available in public domain.

MoEF&CC has notified Wetlands  (Conservation and  Management) Rules,  2017 under  the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 as regulatory framework for conservation and management of wetlands across the country and for maintaining the ecological character of  the  wetlands  without  restricting  the  wise  use.   State/  UT  Wetland  Authority  has  been constituted in each State/ UTs with mandate to notify wetlands, take preventive measures and conservation management practices in wetlands.

(c)  to  (f) Mangrove  Initiative  for  Shoreline  Habitats  &  Tangible  Incomes  (MISHTI)  was launched on  the  occasion  of  World  Environment  Day  i.e.,  5th  June  2023  and  accordingly, Ministry has prepared the Operational Guidelines for implementation of MISHTI activities and circulated the same with the States for preparation of plans. Further, the States have also been encouraged to take activities under MISHTI  through  convergence  with the existing schemes/programs.  The State wise proposed targets for FY 2023-24 under MISHTI is given in Annexure-1.

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Table: State wise area taken up under MISHTI for FY 2023-24

| S. No.   | Name of the State                  |   Target Area for Interventions (Area in Ha) |
|----------|------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh                     |                                       133.35 |
| 2        | Andaman and Nicobar Islands        |                                         6.75 |
| 3        | Gujarat                            |                                      6088.5  |
| 4        | Goa                                |                                        35    |
| 5        | Karnataka                          |                                       240    |
| 6        | Maharashtra                        |                                       141.78 |
| 7        | West Bengal                        |                                       828    |
| 8        | Puducherry                         |                                        21    |
| 9        | Dadra &Nagar Haveli and Daman& Diu |                                        55.66 |
|          | Total                              |                                      7580.7  |

Annexure-1