19.5 K Ha Mangroves Get Highest Protection Status In Maha

India’s only mangrove conservation body Maharashtra Mangrove Cell completes a decade of service to environment

MUMBAI, July 26 (The CONNECT) - India’s sole mangrove conservation body the Maharashtra Mangrove Cell has completed a decade of service during which the State cover under the sea forest has grown by 72%.

With the goal of reducing climate change through the conservation and restoration of coastal and marine habitats, primarily mangroves, the Mangrove Cell of Maharashtra under the State Forest Department has been created.

Over the past decade, the State has witnessed a 72% increase in the state’s mangrove cover across seven coastal districts from 2012 (186 sq. km) onwards to 2022 (324 sq. km), a net increase of 132 sq. km.

So far, 19500 hectares have been notified as Reserved Forest - the highest protection status - under section 4 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927. Maharashtra is also the first state in India to declare Sonneratia alba as the State mangrove tree.

On the occasion of International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presented the Mangrove Foundation Awards 2022 at Sahyadri State Guest House to celebrate the achievements of the people actively involved in the protection and conservation of the state mangrove and marine ecosystem.

Shinde stressed the importance of mangroves in protection against natural calamities. He expressed his satisfaction at the increase in mangrove cover in the State and promised all the support for mangrove conservation. Mentioning some of the activities undertaken in the state like coral transplantation, organizing turtle festival, Marambalpada ecotourism centre and crocodile safari in Ratnagiri he called for identifying and developing new ecotourism sites along coastal Maharashtra.

Fadnavis said that the Mangrove Cell, Maharashtra Forest Dept. has been playing an important role regarding the protection and conservation of mangroves in the State. He emphasised that the sustainable livelihood programmes being implemented by the Mangrove Cell and Foundation have changed the perception of the local people towards mangroves and that this programme has created ‘Kandalvan Mitra’ (Mangrove Friends) all over the coast of Maharashtra.

He also mentioned that the effective protection of mangroves was only possible through the participation of local community in the conservation activity and it was indeed commendable that such people (individuals and Self-Help Groups) were felicitated today by the Maharashtra Forest Department.

The Mangrove Cell and Mangrove Foundation have made significant progress over the past ten years in a variety of areas, including the development of over 125 villages along the Konkan coast that are now earning over 85 lakh under livelihood schemes, especially during the trying times of Covid-19. In addition, nine eco-tourism villages have been developed along coastal Maharashtra for better mangrove conservation and habitat protection.

“The landmark order by the Bombay high court banning mangrove destruction and construction within 50m in 2005 and reiterated in 2018 combined with active efforts by the state mangrove cell since 2012, have all had a combined effect in ensuring mangroves are conserved. The increase in mangrove cover of Maharashtra is testimony for this,” said Virendra Tiwari, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Mangrove Cell) and Executive Director of the Mangrove Foundation.