**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 127, regarding mangrove forest protection measures in Andhra Pradesh. The question was scheduled to be answered on December 1, 2025. The response details the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) program and its implementation.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **MISHTI Program Overview:**
* Launched as part of Budget Announcement 2023-24.
* Aims to promote and restore mangroves and enhance coastal ecosystem resilience.
* **Implementation & Funding:**
* Implemented based on proposals from coastal States/UTs.
* Convergence with various schemes, including State/National CAMPA, MGNREGS and State Plans.
* An area of 1649.72 ha has been taken up in the 6 districts of Andhra Pradesh namely Bapatla, Kakinada, Eluru, Krishna, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema and Tirupati.
* ₹ 13.077 crores released to Andhra Pradesh through gap funding from National CAMPA.
* **Activities under MISHTI:**
* **Core Activities:** Plantation and restoration.
* **Support Activities:** Livelihood diversification, awareness generation, capacity building, research and development, publicity and outreach, monitoring and evaluation, and promotion of ecotourism through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
* Local communities play a central role in core activities like nursery raising, plantation, mangrove monitoring, seed collection, channel excavation, feeder/field channel construction, and seed dibbling in mangrove plantation and restoration programs.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Coastal States/UTs**
* **Impact:** Responsible for submitting proposals for scheme implementation.
* **Action Required:** Develop and submit proposals for mangrove restoration projects in alignment with the MISHTI program.
**Stakeholder: Local Fishing Communities**
* **Impact:** Involved in mangrove conservation efforts.
* **Action Required:** Participate in core activities such as nursery raising, plantation, mangrove monitoring, seed collection, channel excavation, feeder/field channel construction, and seed dibbling.
**Stakeholder: State Government of Andhra Pradesh**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing the MISHTI scheme.
* **Action Required:** Undertake the core and support activities under MISHTI through gap funding from National CAMPA.
Key Entities Referenced
Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI): A mangrove initiative to promote and restore mangroves and enhance the resilience of coastal ecosystems, launched as part of the Budget Announcement 2023-24.
Andhra Pradesh: The state where Mangrove Forest Protection Measures are being implemented, and where specific districts are involved in the MISHTI program.
State/National CAMPA: Schemes through convergence of which implementation of MISHTI is undertaken.
MGNREGS: Schemes through convergence of which implementation of MISHTI is undertaken.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The ministry responsible for answering questions related to Mangrove Forest Protection Measures and overseeing the implementation of related schemes.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 127
TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025
Mangrove Forest Protection Measures in Andhra Pradesh
127. DR. GUMMA THANUJA RANI:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the specific measures taken by the Government to protect and restore mangrove forests
along the coast of Andhra Pradesh during the last five years and the current year;
(b) the impact of these measures on local fishing communities belong to SC/ST; and
(c) the details of the plans, if any, to involve these communities in mangrove conservation
efforts?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (c) 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. An area of 1649.72
ha has been taken up in the 6 districts of Andhra Pradesh namely Bapatla, Kakinada, Eluru,
Krishna, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema and Tirupati. A sum of ₹ 13.077 crores has been
released to the State for undertaking the core and support activities under MISHTI through gap
funding from National CAMPA.
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. In addition, local communities have a central role in
implementing core activities such as nursery raising, plantation, mangrove monitoring, seed
collection, channel excavation, feeder/field channel construction, and seed dibbling in
mangrove plantation and restoration programs.
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