India’s Position on Blue Carbon Ecosystems

In response to a question in the Parliament, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change clarified that India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement do not specifically mention “blue carbon ecosystems” as a separate target. 

Further, the statement mentions that there are no explicit guidelines or a dedicated implementation framework for blue carbon ecosystems in India.

While not directly stated, the protection and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes support India’s broader climate goals of mitigation and adaptation. 

Blue carbon ecosystems, such as mangroves, seagrass meadows, and salt marshes, are coastal and marine habitats that naturally capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The term “blue carbon” typically refers to the carbon sequestered by these vegetated coastal systems, differentiating it from terrestrial (green carbon) storage in forests. 

These ecosystems act as powerful carbon sinks, capturing CO₂ through photosynthesis and locking it in living plant biomass and waterlogged sediments where it can remain for centuries to millennia. Despite their limited global footprint, blue carbon ecosystems can store carbon per unit area at rates many times greater than even tropical rainforests.

India does have a policy to promote mangrove conservation, Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI). The total mangrove cover in India is 4,991.68 sq km, about 0.15% of the country’s total geographical area, making it a significant part of the blue carbon ecosystem. 

Mangroves are vital coastal ecosystems and play a key role in supporting biodiversity, contributing to the local communities, and storing up to four times more carbon than other tropical rainforests.

In June 2023, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change launched MISHTI to enhance mangrove ecosystems for their high carbon storage capacity and role as coastal bio-shields. This five-year initiative (2023-2028) seeks to restore and promote mangroves along India’s coastline, enhancing coastal habitats’ sustainability.

Additionally, India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti runs a comprehensive river rejuvenation initiative, the Namami Gange Programme (National Mission for Clean Ganga – NMCG). 

NMCG mainly focuses on sewage treatment, riverfront development, afforestation, wetland and biodiversity conservation, and public awareness, some of which indirectly support blue carbon sequestration.

Since 2016–17, NMCG has funded State Forest Departments of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal for plantations along the river. So far, a total of 33,024 hectares of plantation has been carried out under the programme.

Moreover, restoration efforts targeting key blue carbon ecosystems in India are also undertaken across all States and Union Territories. These initiatives have actively involved local communities, leveraging their traditional knowledge to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of restoration outcomes.