Mangrove Restoration Drives in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra
Why in the news
Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and the Mumbai region launched big mangrove drives in August 2025 to protect coasts, wildlife and climate.
Key facts
- Mangroves: salt-tolerant coastal forests whose interlinked roots absorb surges, cyclones and erosion.
- Blue carbon sink: roots and sediments store carbon; flamingos, herons and mudskippers live here.
- Livelihoods: fishing, honey gathering and crab farming.
| State | Programme | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | Green Tamil Nadu Mission | Area doubled in 2021-24; Avicennia planting at Muthupettai (115 ha) |
| Maharashtra | Thane Creek Project | ₹10.3 crore: 3.75 lakh saplings, 150 tonnes plastic out, women-led team |
| Gujarat | MISHTI | Over 19,000 ha restored, beating national targets |
Threats
- Urban encroachment, plastic waste, shrimp farms, salinity and sea-level shifts, and invasive Prosopis juliflora.
Exam angle
- Gujarat’s front-runner scheme: MISHTI.
- Invasive plant: Prosopis juliflora.
- Related term: blue carbon sink.