Why Mangroves Matter
Mangroves are unique forested wetlands where trees thrive in saline and brackish waters. They:
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Act as natural buffers, absorbing the impact of cyclones, tidal surges, and erosion. For instance, during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, villages shielded by mangroves recorded significantly less damage than exposed areas.
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Serve as nursery grounds for fish, crabs, molluscs, and birds, supporting coastal fisheries and biodiversity.
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Store vast amounts of “blue carbon”, locking carbon in roots and soils, thus aiding climate mitigation.
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Support livelihoods of fisherfolk, honey collectors, and coastal communities.
India has about 4,991 sq. km of mangroves, spread mainly across West Bengal (Sundarbans), Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu. Yet, threats from aquaculture, urbanisation, and industrial expansion continue to shrink and degrade these ecosystems. Globally too, the IUCN warns that 50% of mangrove ecosystems may collapse by 2050.
Tamil Nadu’s Comeback Story
Tamil Nadu has emerged as a leader in mangrove recovery:
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Under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission, mangrove cover expanded from 4,500 hectares in 2021 to over 9,000 hectares by 2024.
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In Muthupettai (Pattuvanachi estuary), the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation restored 115 hectares by digging tidal canals and planting over 4.3 lakh Avicennia seeds, transforming stagnant mudflats into vibrant mangrove forests.
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In Chennai’s Buckingham Canal, 12,500 mangrove seedlings of five species were planted in 2024 after removing invasive Prosopis weeds. This created a new green belt against cyclones.
These cases highlight how community engagement plus science-based restoration can revive coastal shields once degraded by shrimp farms, pollution, and poor hydrology.
Mumbai’s Urban Experiment
In 2025, Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), launched a ₹10.3 crore mangrove restoration project along Thane Creek:
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Trash booms were deployed to intercept plastic waste before it reached mangrove swamps.
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A plan to plant 3.75 lakh saplings aims to create habitats for flamingos and 180+ bird species.
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Local women are being employed in plantation and maintenance, linking ecology with livelihood generation.
This model demonstrates how corporate-backed, nature-based solutions can address both environmental and urban challenges.
Gujarat: A National Leader
Under the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI), launched in 2023, Gujarat has:
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Already planted 19,000 hectares of mangroves in two years, surpassing targets.
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Strengthened coastal belts in Kutch and Saurashtra, boosting resilience against tidal waves and supporting eco-tourism.
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Become home to 23.6% of India’s mangrove cover, showing how large-scale restoration can be rapidly upscaled.
Why Restoration is Crucial for India’s Security
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Disaster Risk Reduction – Mangroves reduce storm surges and flooding, protecting infrastructure like ports, power plants, and coastal highways.
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Food Security – By sustaining fisheries, they safeguard livelihoods of millions.
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Climate Commitments – Blue carbon stored in mangroves helps India meet its net-zero goals by 2070.
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Strategic Defence – Coastal ecosystems are India’s first line of defence against climate-induced displacement and economic loss.
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Cost-Effective Shield – Studies suggest mangrove protection costs are 10–50 times cheaper than building sea walls.
Challenges Ahead
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Urban expansion continues to eat into mangrove swamps (e.g., in Mumbai’s creeks).
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Aquaculture and industrial effluents degrade estuaries.
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Community participation is uneven — locals must be partners, not bystanders, in conservation.
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Policy gaps remain: while MISHTI is promising, there’s no uniform national mangrove law.
India’s coastal communities stand at the frontline of climate change. Restoring mangroves is not just an environmental obligation but a national security imperative. Tamil Nadu, Mumbai, and Gujarat show that with political will, scientific planning, and community involvement, mangroves can rebound. The task ahead is to mainstream these efforts, making mangroves central to India’s climate resilience, livelihood protection, and disaster-preparedness strategy.
