**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 149 on mangrove conservation, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change provides the following details. As per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, the total mangrove cover in India is 4,991.68 km2, representing 0.15% of the country's geographical area. This reflects a net increase of 16.68 km2 since ISFR 2019. State/Union Territory-wise mangrove cover data for both ISFR 2019 and ISFR 2023 are detailed in Annexure 1, with West Bengal (2,119.16 km2), Gujarat (1,164.06 km2) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (608.29 km2) having the largest mangrove covers as of ISFR 2023.
Key promotional initiatives to ensure mangrove protection include the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI), launched on June 5th, 2023, to restore and promote mangroves. The Coastal Zone Regulation (CRZ) Notification of 2019, under The Environment Protection Act, 1986, classifies mangroves as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) with restricted activities and mandates a 50-meter buffer zone for mangrove covers exceeding 1,000 square meters. CRZ 2019 stipulates a three-fold replanting of mangroves if any are affected by developmental processes. Further protection is afforded under the Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 1980, The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and various state-specific laws.
Key Entities Referenced
Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats Tangible Incomes MISHTI: A program launched to restore and promote mangroves as unique, natural ecosystems and for preserving and enhancing the sustainability of the coastal habitats.
India State of Forest Report ISFR 2023: A report providing data on the total mangrove cover in the country.
Coastal Zone Regulation Notification of 2019 CRZ: Notification under The Environment Protection Act, 1986 that classifies Mangroves as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs).
The Environment Protection Act, 1986: Act under which the Coastal Zone Regulation Notification of 2019 is issued.
Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 1980: Act under which mangrove areas and mangrove ecosystems are protected.
The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Act under which mangrove areas and mangrove ecosystems are protected.
West Bengal: State with the largest mangrove cover as per ISFR 2023.
Gujarat: State with significant mangrove cover.
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 km2, 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 km2 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 5th 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.
*****Annexure 1
State and year wise break up of Mangrove Cover in the country
(in km2)
S. State/UTs Mangrove Cover as per Mangrove Cover as per
No ISFR 2019 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 14.20
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
*****