kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK :  Sunderbans, June 11, 2025 —The significant step toward ecological preservation and climate resilience, the Government of India’s ambitious Project MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) has been launched with renewed focus in the Sunderbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the expansion of the initiative during a visit to the region, highlighting the government’s commitment to preserving the critical coastal ecosystem amid growing climate threats.

Project MISHTI, which was first unveiled in the Union Budget 2023–24, is a joint effort between the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the Mangrove Cell, with additional support from local governments and scientific institutions. The project aims to restore and expand mangrove cover along India’s coastline, particularly in vulnerable regions like the Sunderbans that face increasing risks from rising sea levels, cyclones, and salinity intrusion.

Addressing a gathering of forest officials, conservationists, and local stakeholders in Gosaba, Minister Yadav emphasized the ecological, economic, and cultural importance of mangroves. “Mangroves are not just natural buffers against climate change, they are biodiversity hotspots and lifelines for coastal communities,” he said. “Project MISHTI will not only protect the delicate Sunderbans delta but also generate income for local people through eco-sensitive livelihoods.”

The Sunderbans, straddling the deltaic region of southern West Bengal, is home to thousands of species, including the iconic Royal Bengal Tiger, saltwater crocodiles, and rare mangrove flora. However, decades of environmental degradation, erosion, and deforestation have left large parts of the region vulnerable to natural disasters and biodiversity loss. MISHTI intends to reverse this trend through scientific mangrove plantation, community-based afforestation drives, and the integration of nature-based livelihoods like crab farming, honey harvesting, and eco-tourism.

Under the project, the central government will work closely with the West Bengal Forest Department, local panchayats, and NGOs to plant more than 5 million mangrove saplings across degraded patches in the next three years. Remote sensing technology and GIS mapping will be used to monitor progress, while training programs for local residents will ensure sustainable participation and stewardship.

Dr. Nirmala Chatterjee, a senior ecologist from the Indian Institute of Forest Management, welcomed the move, stating, “This is not just about planting trees; it’s about restoring an entire ecosystem. MISHTI brings science, policy, and people together. It’s one of the few climate programs that truly understands the link between ecology and livelihoods.”

The project also has a strong educational component. Schools in the Sunderbans region will participate in a ‘Mangrove Guardians’ campaign aimed at spreading awareness among young people about the role of mangroves in preventing flooding, stabilizing coastlines, and supporting wildlife. Officials also confirmed that part of the MISHTI budget will go toward creating mangrove interpretation centers and training eco-volunteers.

While the initiative has been broadly praised, environmentalists have urged consistent follow-up and strict safeguards against industrial encroachment. Activists stressed that community rights must remain central to the project to avoid conflicts and ensure long-term ecological balance.

With global climate challenges intensifying, the implementation of Project MISHTI in the Sunderbans is being seen as a landmark move in India’s conservation roadmap. It aligns with the country's broader commitments under international agreements like the Paris Accord and its national goal to increase forest and tree cover as part of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

As the tides lap at the edges of eroding islands in the Sunderbans, the government’s bet on mangroves could prove to be not just a tool of resistance, but a symbol of renewal and resilience.