AP Ranks Second in Mangrove Plantation Under Centre’s MISHTI Scheme

Vijayawada:Andhra Pradesh has been ranked second in the country in mangrove plantation under the centre’s Mangrove Initiative for Coastline Habitats and Income (MISHTI) programme.

The state has successfully cultivated over 1,400 hectares of mangrove plantations from 2024 to 2026 using the Fishbone technique in Rajamahendravaram and Guntur forest circles at a cost of Rs 13 crore.

The news comes ahead of World Mangrove Day on Sunday, July 26.

The mangrove project is being jointly implemented in the state by Andhra Pradesh Forest Department and MS Swaminathan Research Foundation under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). Central and state governments are sharing the project cost equally.

Forest officials announced that they are developing mangrove plantations by creating channels in the estuaries to ensure the proper mixture of river and sea water with the salinity required for mangrove growth. They said that creating and maintaining the canal constituted most of the work, while planting saplings was a smaller part of the project.

Officials said the canals will be maintained for five years to ensure adequate water flow and salinity and to enable mangrove plants to settle. This will enable natural regeneration through seed dispersal.

Additional Chief Conservator of Forests (CAMPA) Rahul Pandey said Andhra Pradesh stands second among the 13 coastal states and union territories of the country that have implemented the MISHTI scheme.

Ahead of World Mangrove Day on Sunday, Andhra Pradesh Forest Department and AP Pollution Control Board (APPCB) released an awareness poster titled “Let’s protect our mangrove forests to protect our future” in Guntur.

Guntur District Forest Officer Hima Sailaja and APPCB Environmental Engineer Md. Nazeena Begum said mangrove forests protect coastal areas from cyclones, floods and coastal erosion. They store carbon, help mitigate the effects of climate change, and provide habitat for marine life, birds and other wildlife.

Officers called on the public to participate in the protection and restoration of mangrove forests and ensure a sustainable environment for future generations.