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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 67
TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.01.2026
Mangrove forests in Tamil Nadu
67. SHRI S. KALYANASUNDARAM:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the steps taken by the Central Government to develop and conserve mangrove forests
in Tamil Nadu including support under projects MISHTI, TN-SHORE and other
Central/State joint initiatives;
(b) the funds sanctioned, released and utilised for mangrove plantation, restoration and
coastal bio-shield projects along the State's coast, particularly in tsunami-vulnerable
areas;
(c) the district-wise and coastal belt-wise acreage of mangroves added or restored during
the last three years; and
(d) the measures planned to enhance carbon sequestration, biodiversity and community
livelihood through mangrove ecosystem in the State?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has launched “Mangrove
Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI)” to restore and promote
mangroves as unique, natural eco-system and for preserving and enhancing the sustainability
of the coastal habitats on 5th June 2023 with the objective to “restore mangrove forests” by
undertaking mangrove reforestation/ afforestation measures along the coast of India. The
initiative is being implemented through convergence with other central/state initiatives along
with the provision of gap funding from National CAMPA.
The Government of Tamil Nadu is implementing a dedicated coastal mission namely Tamil
Nadu Sustainable Harnessing of Ocean Resources and Blue Economy (TN-SHORE) also
known as the Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission with the support from the World Bank
under which coastal protection is being strengthened through establishment of bio-shields,
creation of natural barriers for enhancing coastal resilience, and strengthening community
participation in coastal protection.
However, the State Government of Tamil Nadu has not submitted any proposal for seeking gap
funding under MISHTI from National CAMPA, and the interventions under MISHTI are being
implemented and reported through convergence.
(b) The State Forest Department of Tamil Nadu have sanctioned an amount of ₹38.29
crores in financial year 2024-25 for building bio-shields for habitat rehabilitation and mangroveconservation across all coastal districts of the State. The sanctioned funds are being utilized for
mangrove plantation, restoration of degraded mangroves, habitat rehabilitation and
strengthening of coastal bio-shields, with emphasis on ecologically vulnerable and disaster-
prone coastal stretches including tsunami-vulnerable areas.
(c) & (d) The district-wise mangrove cover in the State as per the records of Tamil Nadu
Forest Department, is provided in Annexure 1. Further, during the last three years, mangrove
restoration initiatives undertaken in the state include new mangrove plantations covering 24.03
km² and restoration of degraded mangrove areas covering 12.07 km² through assisted natural
regeneration, hydrological restoration and site-specific plantation models in priority coastal
belts have resulted in overall enhancement of carbon sink, conservation of biodiversity and
improvement in community livelihoods through sustainable management of mangrove
ecosystems.
*****Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of the Rajya Sabha Un-Starred Question No. 67
due for reply on 29.01.2026 by Shri S. Kalyanasundaram, regarding “Mangrove forests
in Tamil Nadu”
The District-wise acreage of mangroves in the State:
Total Mangrove Cover
S. No Name of the District
(in sq.km)
1. Thanjavur 13.34
2. Cuddalore 8.46
3. Thiruvarur 8.2
4. Thoothukudi 3.21
5. Mayiladuthurai 2.55
6. Ramanathapuram 2.46
7. Pudukottai 1.53
8. Nagapattinam 1.16
9. Chennai 0.39
10. Thiruvallur 0.39
11. Villupuram 0.22
Total 41.91
(Source: Tamil Nadu Forest Department)
*****