Context: Calling for integration of mangroves conservation with the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programmes for carbon sequestering, India joined the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC).

Key Points

• India is among the first five countries to join the MAC, at the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.

• The others are Australia, Japan, Spain, and Sri Lanka.

• MAC initiative brings the world together to advance the global cause of Mangroves.

• The move is in line with India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5- 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent, through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.

Importance of Mangroves

• Mangrove forests are the most productive ecosystems of the world.

• This tidal forest serves as a nursery ground for several organism.

• It protects coastal erosion.

• It sequesters carbon.

• It provides the livelihood for millions of people.

• It can absorb four-five times more carbon emissions than landed tropical forests.

• Mangroves can also act as a buffer for ocean acidification and act as a sink for microplastics.

Distribution of Mangroves according to the State of the World’s Mangroves report 2022:

• Mangroves are distributed in tropical and subtropical regions.

• From 2010 to 2020, the human-driven loss represents 62 per cent of total losses of over 600 square kilometres or 60,000 hectares.

• South Asia comprises 6.4 per cent of the global mangroves cover.

• India accounts for over 50 per cent of total mangrove cover in South Asia.

• The most extensive area of mangroves is found in Southeast Asia, with Indonesia alone comprising a fifth of global total.

• Together, Indonesia, Brazil, Australia, Mexico, and Nigeria host almost half the world’s mangroves.

• According to the Forest Survey report 2021, mangroves cover in the country is 4,992 km2, which is 0.15 per cent of the country’s total geographical area.

• The top three states showing an increase in mangroves cover are Odisha (8 km2), Maharashtra (4 km2), and Karnataka (3 km2).

• One of the largest remaining areas of mangroves in the world, the Sundarbans supports an exceptional level of biodiversity in both the terrestrial and marine environments.

• There is significant increase observed in mangroves cover in India in its Andamans region; Sundarbans region; and in the Gujarat region.

Conservation and protection of mangroves

• The Government has taken steps to protect sustain, conserve and augment forests in the country through promotional as well as regulatory measures.

• The promotional measures are being implemented through a Central Sector Scheme under National Coastal Mission Programme on ‘Conservation and Management of Mangroves and Coral Reefs’.

• Under this programme, annual Management Action Plan (MAP) for conservation and management of mangroves are formulated and implemented in all the coastal States and Union Territories.

Regulatory measures are implemented through

• Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification (2019) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

• the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972

• the Indian Forest Act, 1927

• the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

• The Government under Centrally sponsored scheme for conservation & Management of Mangroves, extend assistance to Coastal State/UTs for implementation of action plans including:

• survey and demarcation,

• alternation and supplementary livelihood,

• protection measures and

• education and awareness activities.

• The Ministry piloted an Integrated Coastal Zone management Project in Coastal stretches of 3 states namely Gujarat, Odisha and West Bengal.

• The objective is of Conservation and Protection of Coastal resources which included plantation of mangroves as one of the major activities.

Maharashtra has taken several proactive steps for conservation of Mangroves:

• A Mangrove Cell, dedicated for Mangrove conservation.

• Mangrove and Marine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation is also created for enhancing Mangrove cover and to promote research and livelihood activities.