Lok Sabha Question No. 149 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Mangrove Conservation
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai, Smt. Aparajita Sarangi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 149

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025

## Mangrove Conservation

## 149. SMT. APARAJITA SARANGI: SHRI BIBHU PRASAD TARAI:

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

- (a) the details of the total mangrove cover in the country, States/UTs-wise;
- (b) the details of the net increase in mangrove cover during the last five years; and
- (c) the details of the key  promotional  initiatives/achievements  to  ensure  mangrove protection?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) & (b) As per latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, the total mangrove cover in the  country  is  4,991.68  km 2 ,  which  accounts  for  0.15  %  of  the  country's  total geographical area. In comparison to ISFR 2019 and ISFR 2023, there has been a significant  increase  of  16.68  km 2   in  the  country's  mangrove  coverage.  The State/UTs  wise  detail  of  mangrove  cover  as  per  ISFR  2019  and  ISFR  2023  is given in Annexure 1 .
- (c) As a part of Budget Announcement 2023-24, the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes  (MISHTI) has  been launched on  5 th   June 2023  to restore and promote mangroves as unique, natural eco-system and for preserving and enhancing the sustainability of the coastal habitats. The objective of MISHTI is to restore mangrove forests by undertaking mangrove reforestation/ afforestation  measures  along  the  coast  of  India.  The  Coastal  Zone  Regulation Notification  of  2019  (CRZ)  under  The  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986 classifies Mangroves as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) permitting only very limited activities in these areas. Additionally, provision of a 50-meter buffer zone along  mangroves  is  also  specified  as  CRZ-IA  in  case  the  mangrove  cover  is greater than 1,000 square meters. In such instances, if any mangroves are likely to be affected during the developmental process, three times the number  of mangroves lost must be replanted as per the provisions of CRZ-2019 regulation. Further  mangrove  areas  and  mangrove  ecosystems  are  also  protected  under  the relevant provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and State specific laws.

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Annexure 1 State and year wise break up of Mangrove Cover in the country (in km 2 )

| S. No   | State/UTs                | Mangrove Cover as per ISFR 2019   |   Mangrove Cover as per ISFR 2023 |
|---------|--------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh           | 404.00                            |                            421.43 |
| 2       | Goa                      | 26.00                             |                             31.34 |
| 3       | Gujarat                  | 1177.00                           |                           1164.06 |
| 4       | Karnataka                | 10.00                             |                             14.2  |
| 5       | Kerala                   | 9.00                              |                              9.45 |
| 6       | Maharashtra              | 320.00                            |                            315.09 |
| 7       | Odisha                   | 251.00                            |                            259.06 |
| 8       | Tamil Nadu               | 45.00                             |                             41.91 |
| 9       | West Bengal              | 2,112.00                          |                           2119.16 |
| 10      | Andaman &Nicobar Islands | 616.00                            |                            608.29 |
| 11      | Daman and Diu            | 3.00                              |                              3.86 |
| 12      | Puducherry               | 2.00                              |                              3.83 |
|         | Total                    | 4,975.00                          |                           4991.68 |

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