#78: Mangroves and MISHTI of Budget 2023

New scheme announced, imp for Prelims

#Budget2023 announced a new scheme: MISHTI i.e. Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes

What are Mangroves and what makes them so important for the world and #UPSC?

Mangroves, what?

- Salt tolerant plant communities found in (sub)tropical intertidal regions
- Formed where intertidal flow with adequate sediments to set down roots
- Imp. for coastal biodiversity; act as bio-shield against extreme climatic events

Where do they grow in India?

- Indian State of Forests Report '21: In 9 states & 3 UTs
- WB have highest mangroves cover of 2114 sq km
- Total area ~5000 sq km

Why are Mangroves imp?

- Hold up 4x Carbon than other ecosystems
- 1% loss of mangroves -> 0.23 gigatons of CO2 (~520 barrels of oil)

Challenges & Threats

- Industrialization
- Land reclamation
- Climate change & tropical storms
- Increasing population in coastal area
- Increasing aquaculture demands and fisheries
- Rising demand for land, timer, folder, fuel-wood

So, what's MISHTI?

- In sync with India's NDCs
- India joined Mangrove Alliance for Climate at CoP27 in Egypt
- Implemented through MGNREGA Funds + Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management & Planning Authority (CAMPA) Funds

What's more needed to be done?

• Extensive work with local communities. Why?
  - Survival rate of Mangrove seed plantation is 50%
  - Survival rate of Mangrove saplings is 60%
  - Therefore, community ownership is must for Mangrove survival

• Check on discharge of untreated domestic & industrial effluents into rivers to stop disrupting intertidal flow

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