Odisha Received Rs 7 million for Mangrove Protection in FY 2024-25

According to a response given by India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the Parliament, Odisha received a sum of Rs 7 million (Rs 70 lakh) under the MISHTI Scheme for mangrove restoration and plantation activities.

In 2023, the Indian government launched the MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) Scheme to restore and promote mangroves as a unique, natural ecosystem and to preserve and enhance the sustainability of the coastal habitats.

Mangroves play a critical role in protecting coastal areas, supporting biodiversity, and contributing to the livelihoods of local communities. Odisha is one of the significant coastal states with a mangrove cover of 25,906 hectares as per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023.

The total area being covered under the MISHTI scheme in Odisha for FY 2024-25 is 89 hectares in four districts, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, and Puri.

In Kendrapara district, Junusnagar village, situated in and around the Bhitarkanika Mangrove Division, has been identified for the plantation of over 5 hectares under the MISHTI Scheme. An expenditure of Rs 469,000 has already been incurred during 2024-25 for raising 13,750 seedlings.

The targeted interventions by the Eco-Development Committee (EDC), including Junusnagar EDC, Balabhadrapur EDC, Ajagarpatia, and other fringe villages, include activities like raising of nursery, planting mangrove species and livelihood support activities such as backyard duckery, mangrove honey production through beehive boxes, and tailoring initiatives.

Under the MISHTI Scheme, local community participation is a key component of implementation. Multi-stakeholder awareness and sensitisation workshops are organised with the involvement of Forest Officials, local NGOs, Van Suraksha Samitis (VSS), Eco-Development Committees (EDC), Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members, academia, and representatives from various government departments, focusing on mangrove protection and conservation.

Provisions for regular community meetings, training sessions, and awareness programmes to promote conservation and the sustainable management of mangrove resources exist within the MISHTI scheme.

Members of VSS and EDCs are actively encouraged to participate in nursery raising, plantation, post-planting operations, and watch and ward activities to strengthen local commitment towards mangrove conservation and restoration.

Odisha is one of the lowest recipients of MISHTI Scheme funds for FY 2024-25; in comparison, Gujarat received Rs 62 million (Rs 6.20 cr) for 2500 hectares, Andhra Pradesh got Rs 47.1 million for 701 hectares, West Bengal received Rs 37.4 million for 478 hectares, Puducherry received Rs 19.4 million for 55 ha, and Kerala got Rs 6.7 million for 13 ha.

In total, funds released to the Indian States during FY 2024-25 as Gap-Funding from the National CAMPA through the MISHTI Scheme were Rs 179.6 million for 3,836 hectares. 

A total of 26396.34 ha of degraded mangrove area have been brought under restoration efforts during 2023-24 and 2024-25, which includes 3836 ha area under gap funding from National CAMPA, through MISHTI and 22560.34 hectares through convergence with State CAMPA, MGNREGS, and other schemes.