Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Sunday, 13 September 2026, called for science-driven, community-led restoration and technology-enabled monitoring of mangroves at a national workshop held in Bhuj, Kachchh, Gujarat. Stressing the ecological significance of these coastal ecosystems for biodiversity, fisheries, and shoreline protection, Yadav reviewed India's progress under the flagship MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes) programme.

MISHTI Progress in Gujarat

Gujarat has emerged as a frontrunner under MISHTI, with 27,652 hectares of mangrove cover restored against a 2023–27 target of 29,250 hectares. Of this, 12,450 hectares lie within the ecologically demanding Kori Creek region, where site-specific restoration methods tailored to Kachchh's conditions have been deployed. Yadav noted that these interventions also include seaweed cultivation, biodiversity enhancement, and sustainable livelihood generation for coastal communities.

New Tools for Science-Based Decision-Making

On the occasion, Yadav released the Coffee Table Book on Kachchh Mangroves and the Mangroves Atlas of Gujarat, and formally launched the Mangrove GIS (MGIS) Portal. The portal is designed to strengthen satellite-aided monitoring and spatial tracking of mangrove habitats across the state, enabling faster, data-driven conservation responses.

State Government's Commitment Reaffirmed

The workshop was also addressed by Arjun Modhwadia, Gujarat's Cabinet Minister for Forest, Environment, Climate Change and Science and Technology, and Trikambhai Chhanga, Minister of State for Higher and Technical Education, both of whom reaffirmed the state's commitment to coastal ecosystem restoration under MISHTI. Senior officials from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Gujarat Forest Department, scientists, conservationists, and local community representatives were also in attendance.

Guneri Inland Mangroves: A Community Conservation Model

Yadav felicitated the Guneri Inland Mangrove Village Biodiversity Management Committee for its sustained community-led conservation of the Guneri inland mangroves — a rare ecosystem that thrives away from the coastline. The site was declared Gujarat's first Biodiversity Heritage Site in January 2025, underscoring its scientific and ecological rarity. The recognition points to the growing role of grassroots conservation bodies in plugging gaps that state machinery alone cannot address.

Broader Context

India's mangrove cover has been growing steadily, with the country recording an increase in recent national forest surveys. The MISHTI programme, launched as part of the Union Budget 2023–24, specifically targets the restoration of mangroves along the Indian coastline, with participating states receiving financial and technical support. Gujarat, with its extensive coastline, remains one of the programme's most critical theatres. This workshop signals a push to accelerate the final stretch before the 2027 target deadline.