Policy Update
Anu G M
Introduction
Mangroves are one of the keystone species that cover 0.15% of the total geographical area of India as per the Indian State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR 2023). They play a vital role in maintaining the biodiversity of the coastal ecosystem. They also act as natural barriers against storm surges, protect the coastline from erosion and help fight climate change by serving as carbon sinks thereby storing blue carbon. They are also home to a variety of terrestrial and marine endangered species such as the Royal Bengal Tiger and the Dugong, which maintain the natural food chain of the mangrove ecosystem.
Due to their irreplaceable role in ecological services, there is a pressing need to conserve mangroves globally. In support of the global mangrove conservation efforts under the Global Mangrove Alliance initiated at COP 27, India launched the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes in the Union Budget 2023-24. Though the scheme has shown considerable progress in terms of mangrove restoration and providing sustainable income for the coastal communities, there is a need to examine the implementation approach in terms of women empowerment.
About the Scheme
The Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) scheme is a government-led initiative aimed at increasing the mangrove cover along the coastline and on saltpan lands. The scheme is primarily focused on the Sundarbans delta, Hoogly Estuary in West Bengal, India and other bay parts of the country, but also includes other wetlands in the country. The objective of the scheme is to conserve and restore the mangrove ecosystem, which is critical to mitigating the effects of climate change, preventing coastal erosion, and sustaining local livelihoods.
Under the MISHTI scheme, the government is providing financial assistance to local communities to undertake mangrove plantation activities. The scheme also involves awareness campaigns to educate people about the importance of mangroves and their role in protecting the environment. The plantation activities are carried out in a participatory manner, involving local communities and NGOs, to ensure sustainability and community ownership of the initiative. Overall, the MISHTI scheme is a significant step towards promoting sustainable development and protecting the vulnerable coastal areas of India, planned over a period of 2023-2028.
Further, the Coastal Zone Regulation Notification of 2019 (CRZ), Environment Protection Act 1986 classifies Mangroves as ‘Ecologically Sensitive Areas’ and permits only very limited activities in these regions.
MISHTI scheme works under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) and the major sources of funding are CAMPA Fund (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority), VB-G RAM ( Vikshit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika (Gramin) Mission, formerly known as the MGNREGS) and other government and private funding sources.
Performance of the scheme
- Over the last two years from 2023-2025, an area of 22,560.34 hectares has been taken up through convergence across 13 States/UTs for plantation and restoration of degraded mangroves.
- Gujarat, with the second highest mangrove cover in India (FSI 2023), has emerged as the top performer sharing 85 % of the land acquired under the Scheme.
- Following Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have performed well.
- Ironically, West Bengal which has the highest mangrove cover in India (FSI 2023) has shown a very low acquisition of only 10 hectares for mangrove restoration.
Implementation Approach and Gender Critique
MISHTI follows a collaborative and participatory approach. It ensures community participation in mangrove conservation through waged labour and shared local knowledge. It also promotes eco-tourism paving the way for sustainable income for the coastal communities. Though there is data regarding progress on mangrove restoration in terms of plantation metrics, outcomes such as economic upliftment and empowerment of the local population, especially women, remains to be examined.
For example, the Guardians of the Conchalito in Mexico is a women-led grassroots initiative to curb degradation of the mangroves of Conchalito in La Pas. What made this movement unique is the courageous approach of the local women to combat illegal fishing, drug dealing and littering of the mangroves. The women are called the guardians as they took up even night patrolling to conserve the ecosystem. After a year of immense night patrols, the illegal harvest and the presence of illegal fishing gear dropped by 90 %. Despite seeing the results, the women resolved to make Conchalito mangroves totally crime-free. “We didn’t have guns or cars ; only our bodies and courage” reflects their determination.
A comparison with the Guardians of the Conchalito in Mexico and the deployment of women Self Help Groups in India shows that there is difference in the role, authority and relationship with the State. Though a direct comparison cannot be made due to fundamental differences between the two – the Guardians of the Conchalito is a movement facilitated by the State, whereas MISHTI is a bureaucratic framework, the differences in empowerment can be understood.
SHGs under MISHTI are State-facilitated collectives and act as implementing partners or beneficiaries for nursery raising, plantation and allied livelihood support. They lack direct decision-making authority. The Guardians of the Conchalito developed their own aquaculture to resist illegal fishing, often carried out by their own family and relatives. Here, ecosystem restoration was the primary mandate and economic empowerment came as a consequence. Under MISHTI, SHG livelihoods are often parallel or supplementary activities.
Way Forward
According to the UN Environment, 80% of the people displaced by climate change are women or girls facing heightened risks of poverty, violence or unintended pregnancies as they migrate to safer locations. Therefore, there is a dire need for women-led environmental conservation, which will combine results for ecological restoration as well as for social transformation. The following suggestions could be incorporated :
(i) Institutionalising women as ecological custodians rather than footsoldiers.
(ii) Ecosystem-based restoration instead of plantation efforts.
(iii) Addressing structural inequalities in power distribution by decentralising decision-making.
(iv) Gender responsive monitoring and evaluation, such as women’s participation in decision making, control over livelihood incomes, capacity building outcomes and building long-term empowerment indicators.
(v) Embed women’s leadership in institutional design.
Conclusion
Observations from global community-led initiatives highlight the limitations of wage-driven conservation models. The MISHTI scheme, if it addressed the question of women’s leadership, would help India achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of environmental conservation along with gender equality. It would also align with India’s mission of women-led governance.
References
Press Information Bureau (2025). Parliament Question : Mangrove Conservation in Coastal Areas. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2100252®=3&lang=2
India Science, Technology and Innovation Portal. Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitat and Tangible Income (MISHTI). https://www.indiascienceandtechnology.gov.in/programme-schemes/societal-development/mangrove-initiative-shoreline-habitats-tangible-incomes-mishti
Down to Earth. (2025). As told to parliament(February 6, 2025): Mangroves make up 0.15% of India’s total geographical area. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/as-told-to-parliament-february-6-2025-mangroves-make-up-015-of-indias-total-geographical-area
Vanda Felbab Brown. (2022). The women guardians of Conchalito – Organized crime is taking over Mexican fisheries, part III. Brookings. (2022).
Changestarted. (2024). Protection of Mangroves in India- MISHTI Scheme.
Ananya Shukla (2023). MISHTI Scheme for Mangrove Plantation. Sarkari Yojana.
National Ocean Service. Coastal Blue Carbon. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/ecosystems/coastal-blue-carbon
Shiv Sahay Singh. (2025). Over 22,500 hectares of land taken up for mangrove restoration under MISHTI scheme, 85% of area in Gujarat. The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/over-22500-hectares-of-land-taken-up-for-mangrove-restoration-under-mishti-scheme-85-of-area-in-gujarat/article70205560.ece
World Economic Forum. (2024). Climate change impacts women more. We must legislate to protect their health. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/01/women-health-climate-change
Jocelyn Kreider. (2022). Life Among the Mangroves.Why wildlife and people need these special trees to survive. World Wildlife Fund. https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/stories/life-among-the-mangroves
About the Contributor:
Anu. G.M is a Research Intern at IMPRI. She is a student of the Master of Arts in Gender and Development Studies at IGNOU and a UPSC Civil Services aspirant. Her research interests lie in Public Policy Research.
Acknowledgement: The author sincerely thanks Ms. Aasthaba Jadeja, Ms. Bhaktiba Jadeja and the IMPRI team for their valuable support.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
Read more at IMPRI:
When the Screen Feels Safe
External Partnerships vs. Internal Divisions: A Sovereignty Paradox
