Lok Sabha Question No. 82 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-01
Subject: Restoration of Mangrove Areas under MISHTI Scheme in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Thiru Dr. S Jagathratchakan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 82

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025

## Restoration of Mangrove Areas under MISHTI Scheme in Tamil Nadu

## 82. SHRI S JAGATHRATCHAKAN:

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

- (a) the current status of implementation of the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and  Tangible  Incomes  (MISHTI)  scheme  in  Tamil  Nadu,  including  the  total  area identified, restored and under restoration so far, along with the timeline for completion;
- (b) whether  the  MISHTI  scheme  has  incorporated  traditional  ecological  knowledge  and practices of coastal communities in Tamil Nadu as part of its restoration strategy and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  measures  taken  to  ensure  ecological  sustainability,  biodiversity  conservation  and long term maintenance of restored mangrove areas in Tamil Nadu under the MISHTI framework; and
- (d) the  details  of  the  capacity-building,  training  and  livelihood  enhancement  initiatives undertaken  for  local  fishermen,  women's  self-help  groups  and  farmers  under  the scheme in Tamil Nadu?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (d)      As  a  part  of  Budget  Announcement  2023-24,  the  Mangrove  Initiative  for Shoreline  Habitats  &  Tangible  Incomes  (MISHTI)  was  launched  to  promote  and  restore mangroves and enhance the resilience of coastal ecosystems. Implementation of the scheme is undertaken based on proposals submitted by the coastal States/UTs, through convergence with  various  schemes  including  State/National  CAMPA,  MGNREGS  and  State  Plans.  The MISHTI program encompasses both core activities, such as plantation and restoration, and support activities, which include livelihood diversification, awareness generation and capacity building, research  and  development,  publicity  and  outreach, monitoring and evaluation, and the promotion of ecotourism through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and are taken up  as  per  the  plans  received  from  the  States  under  MISHTI.  The  State/UT-wise  details including Tamil Nadu are provided in Annexure 1 .

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,  Green  Tamil  Nadu  Mission  (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. So far, an area of 22,560.34 ha has been taken up  through  convergence  across  13  States/UTs  for  plantation  and  restoration  of  degraded mangroves with 1082 ha in Tamil Nadu since 2023-24. The State Government of Tamil Nadu has not submitted any proposal for gap funding from National CAMPA under MISHTI.

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Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Un-Starred Question No. 82 due  for  reply  on  01.12.2025  by  Shri  S  Jagathratchakan, regarding  'Restoration  of Mangrove Areas under MISHTI Scheme in Tamil Nadu'

The State/UT wise mangrove plantation and restoration through convergence since the inception of the MISHTI:

(Area in Ha)

| S. No.   | States/UTs                               | 2023-24   |   2024-25 |     Total |
|----------|------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh                           | 248.72    |   700.5   |   949.22  |
| 2        | Goa                                      | 35.80     |     6     |    41.8   |
| 3        | Gujarat                                  | 6930.00   | 12290     | 19220     |
| 4        | Karnataka                                | 135.00    |   220     |   355     |
| 5        | Kerala                                   | 0.00      |     5     |     5     |
| 6        | Maharashtra                              | 138.27    |   184.49  |   322.76  |
| 7        | Odisha                                   | 352.00    |   366     |   718     |
| 8        | Tamil Nadu                               | 590.00    |   492     |  1082     |
| 9        | West Bengal                              | 0.00      |     0     |     0     |
| 10       | A&N Islands                              | 8.50      |    11     |    19.5   |
| 11       | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | 40.92     |    10     |    50.92  |
| 12       | Lakshadweep                              | 0.003     |     0.025 |     0.028 |
| 13       | Puducherry                               | 7.00      |    12     |    19     |
|          | Total                                    | 8,423.13  | 14137.2   | 22560.3   |

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