Mangrove Initiative For Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Income (MISHTI) 2023

Policy Update
Sivapriya

Overview

According to the Indian Forest Survey Report 2023, India has a mangrove cover of 4991 sq km, marking a net increase of 363 sq km since 2013. In 2023-24, the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change announced the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Income (MISHTI) with the primary goal of restoring approximately 540 sq km of mangroves spread across nine states and three Union Territories over five years from 2023-28. The initiative stems from India’s participation in the Mangrove Alliance for Climate, launched during COP27 in Egypt in November 2022.

Beyond expanding mangrove cover, the initiative also focuses on strengthening shoreline protection against climate change and sea erosion, promoting ecotourism and sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities, and enhancing opportunities like fishing and various income sources.

Objectives

Mangrove plantation/restoration of degraded or accretion areas and mudflat areas.
Mangrove restoration in abandoned aquaculture ponds & salt pans
Rehabilitation of areas infested with invasive or alien species having mangrove potential.
Strengthen coastal resilience against sea erosion and climate change
Generate sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities by promoting ecotourism and enhancing fishing opportunities.

Funding & Implementation Mechanism

The scheme is funded through a combination of government sources, outlined as follows:

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and other sources are expected to provide 30% of the funding, totaling Rs 250 crores.
Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) Fund: The CAMPA is expected to cover approximately 70% of the total funding. Out of the estimated total project cost of Rs 1250 crores, Rs 1000 crores will be provided through CAMPA. It is a one-time, developmental, and non-recurring grant given to the State Forest Departments, mainly through the National CAMPA.

The MISHTI scheme is implemented through a three-tier institutional structure that coordinates efforts across national, state, and local levels. The State Forest Department is responsible for overall implementation. National CAMPA provides initial development and nursery grants, while recurring costs are covered annually based on Annual Plans of Operation (APOs), prepared by Divisional Forest Officers.

Performance and Impact

Between 2023-25, a total of 26,396.34 hectares of degraded mangrove area were targeted for restoration. This includes 3836 hectares under gap funding of National CAMPA and 22560.34 hectares through the partnership among State CAMPA, MGNREGS, and other schemes.
For the financial year 2024-2025, ₹17.96 crore has been released as a first installment from CAMPA to states such as Gujarat, West Bengal, Kerala, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha for restoration efforts. Amongst these, Gujarat has emerged as a national leader, having planted 19,020 hectares of mangroves with an investment of ₹76 crore over two years under the scheme. An expenditure of ₹4.69 lakh has already been incurred during 2024-25 for raising 13,750 seedlings in Odisha.
The scheme is projected to generate approximately 22.8 million person-days of employment and contribute an estimated 4.5 million tonnes of carbon sequestration.

Since the scheme is relatively in its initial phase, there is scope for more impact but the projected effects are discussed below

Coastal Resilience: The scheme aims to strengthen coastal resilience against climate change consequences like sea level rise and storm surges.
Promote economic benefits and livelihood opportunities for local communities through activities like nursery development, mangrove honey production, backyard duckery, and tailoring initiatives, fostering community ownership and active participation in mangrove management. For instance, in Kendrapara district’s Junusnagar village in Odisha, local Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) and fringe villages are actively involved in raising nurseries and planting mangrove species.
Empowerment and Capacity Building: The scheme promotes regular community meetings and training sessions to build local capacity. One example of successful mangrove restoration is in the Kuchch district of Gujarat through collaboration among government agencies, private stakeholders, and local communities. Women actively participate in conservation and restoration efforts via Self-Help Groups (SHGs), which helps generate income and improve their financial access.
Workshops and Awareness Programs: The scheme organizes workshops and sensitization programs with the aim of raising awareness about mangrove protection and conservation by including Forest Officials, local NGOs, Van Suraksha Samitis (VSS), Eco-Development Committees (EDC), Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members, academia, and government representatives.

Emerging Problems

The MISHTI scheme, despite its clear goals, faces several problems and challenges which are listed below:

Inefficient funding mechanism: The scheme’s funding is combined with MGNREGA and CAMPA, which prevents dedicated or ring-fenced allocations for MISHTI-specific activities. MGNREGA also faces the risk of budget cuts, potentially impacting investment opportunities for the scheme. Additionally, there is a risk of overlapping responsibilities between CAMPA and MGNREGA due to unclear divisions under the scheme.
Scientific Implementation: Currently, the scheme primarily focuses on afforestation methods, potentially neglecting the threats to existing mangroves. This concern arises mainly due to aquaculture, the use of chemical fertilisers, and pollutants from coastal development.
Institutional mechanism: Implementation is hindered by jurisdictional ambiguities, staff shortages, and inadequate infrastructure within state forest departments.
Socio-economic misalignments: Socio-economic misalignments, including power imbalances between management agencies and local communities, and a lack of a consistent market for alternative livelihood activities, remain an emerging problem.

Way forward

The success of the MISHTI scheme can be achieved through a comprehensive approach that addresses concerns regarding the funding mechanism, proper implementation, and increasing participation. To meet its targets on time and efficiently, mobilizing additional funding through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) is essential. Decentralizing the management structure and including non-governmental stakeholders and local communities at all stages of mangrove management is crucial. Addressing socio-economic misalignments and power imbalances is key to fostering community ownership and achieving project goals.

To ensure the scheme generates tangible incomes, we need to establish market linkages for alternative livelihood activities, such as mangrove honey production and tailoring, which previously lacked markets. Promoting ecotourism can also generate additional revenue for local communities, improving their socio-economic conditions and encouraging conservation. Given the increasing impacts of climate change and the ecological importance of mangroves, MISHTI remains a vital intervention in India’s pursuit of sustainable development and climate resilience.