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.

Implementation of activities under MISHTI commenced in FY 2023–24 through convergence with various schemes, including State/National CAMPA, MGNREGS, and State Plans. 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. The State/UT-wise details are provided below:

(Area in Ha)

S. No.	States/UTs	2023-24	2024-25	Total
1	Maharashtra	138.77	53.20	191.97
2	Andhra Pradesh	137.26	700.50	837.76
3	Puducherry	0.00	6.00	6.00
4	Lakshadweep	0.003	0.003	0.006
5	Goa	35.80	6.00	41.80
6	West Bengal	10.00	0.00	10.00
7	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	14.50	2.50	17.00
8	Karnataka	135.00	220.00	355.00
9	Gujarat	6930.00	12290.00	19220.00
10	Odisha	402.00	359.00	761.00
11	Daman and Diu (DD) and  Dadra and Nagar Haveli(DN)	40.92	10.00	50.92
12	Kerala	8.88	0.00	8.88
13	Tamil Nadu	570.00	490.00	1060.00
Total		8423.13	14137.2	22560.34

 

 

The MISHTI programme 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). As per the plans received from the States under MISHTI, the support activities are being undertaken in the second year, after the completion of preparatory work, through convergence with State/National CAMPA, MGNREGS, State Plans, etc. 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 programmes.

The Central Government has amended the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, and as per the amended provisions, eco-tourism has been made a forestry activity for promoting eco-tourism in the country. Promotion of mangrove-based eco-tourism is one of the activities under the MISHTI program and is being supported through the National CAMPA based on plans received from the respective States/UTs. The State-wise details for proposed allocations for eco-tourism as per the plans received from States/UTs are provided below:

(Rs. In Crores)

S. No.	State/UT	Total funds allocated for Ecotourism
1	Gujarat	7.00
2	West Bengal	4.83
3	Kerala	0.00
4	Puducherry	1.00
5	Andhra Pradesh	0.00
6	Odisha	0.044
	Total	12.874

 

This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE, SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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VM/SK

(Rajya Sabha US Q3265)

(Release ID: 2159295)