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

Vijayawada:Andhra Pradesh has secured second place in the country in mangrove plantation under the centre's Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) scheme.

The state successfully raised mangrove plantations over 1,400 hectares from 2024 to 2026 in the Rajamahendravaram and Guntur forest circles using the Fish Bone technique at a cost of ₹13 crore.

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

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

Forest officials explained that they developed mangrove plantations by creating channels in estuaries to ensure a suitable mix of river and seawater with the required salinity for mangrove growth. They said channel creation and maintenance accounted for most of the work, while planting saplings had been a smaller part of the project.

Officials said the channels would be maintained for five years to ensure adequate water flow and salinity, enabling the mangrove plants to establish themselves. This will enable natural regeneration through seed dispersal.

Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (CAMPA) Rahul Pandey said Andhra Pradesh has secured the second place among the country's 13 coastal states and union territories that are implementing the MISHTI scheme.

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

Guntur Divisional 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.

The officers appealed to the public to participate in the protection and restoration of mangrove forests and ensure a sustainable environment for future generations.