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Recent studies suggest that mangroves and coastal wetlands sequester carbon at a rate 10 times greater than mature tropical forests and store three to five times more carbon per area.

What is Blue Carbon?

  • Blue carbon is simply the term for carbon captured by the world’s ocean and coastal ecosystems.
  • Mangroves, sea grasses, and salt marshes, known as blue carbon ecosystems, are highly effective carbon sinks.
  • Their roots help prevent soil erosion and keep the soil stable while increasing and providing marine habitats, and supporting biodiversity.
  • Blue carbon ecosystems help mitigate climate change, protect coastal areas, and support food security, aiding both mitigation and adaptation for coastal communities.
  • Itsdegradation is caused by mangrove exploitation, urban and industrial development, pollution, and pressures from agriculture and aquaculture.

Economic Benefits of Mangrove Restoration in India

  • Reinstated mangroves have attracted significant eco-tourism, drawing government funds through India’s Coastal Regulation Zone policy reforms in 2023.
  • According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in June 2023, integrated restoration methods could increase coastal GDPs by up to 15%.
  • The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2024 reports that for every $1 invested in blue carbon restoration, $6 is returned in economic benefits.

Government Initiative for Mangrove Restoration

  • India’s MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) program aims to restore 540 sq km of mangroves across multiple states, with over 250 sq km already restored by December 2024.
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