Magical Mangroves Campaign

Table of Contents

`The Government has taken steps to protect sustain, conserve and augment forests in the country through promotional as well as regulatory measures.
The promotional measures are being implemented through a Central Sector Scheme under National Coastal Mission Programme on ‘Conservation and Management of Mangroves and Coral Reefs
Under this programme, annual Management Action Plan (MAP) for conservation and management of mangroves are formulated and implemented in all the coastal States and Union Territories.

Regulatory measures are implemented through Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification (2019) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972; the Indian Forest Act, 1927; the Biological Diversity Act, 2002; and rules under these acts as amended from time to time.
As per information provided by the World Wide Fund for Nature, (WWF), India, the WWF India has enjoined citizens in nine states, which include Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Odisha, West Bengal and Karnataka on mangrove conservation through the Magical Mangroves campaign.
About 180 volunteers have committed their time towards being educated on mangrove conservation and to inspire more community members to do the same. Volunteers are equipped with a curated toolkit of presentations, videos, story books, and a mangroves app.
in addition, the Magical Mangroves campaign has sensitized close to 15,600 citizens in India’s coastal states through 220 webinars.
The Government under Centrally sponsored scheme for conservation & Management of Mangroves, extend assistance to Coastal State/UTs for implementation of action plans including survey and demarcation, alternation and supplementary livelihood, protection measures and education and awareness activities.
In addition, State Government of Maharashtra has taken several proactive steps for conservation of Mangroves and a Mangrove Cell, dedicated for Mangrove conservation, has been establishment by the State Government.
Further, Mangrove and Marine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation is also created for enhancing Mangrove cover and to promote research and livelihood activities under the Forest Department by the State Government.
The Forest Survey of India (FSI) assessed Mangrove Cover of the country in three density classes i.e. very Dense, Moderately Dense and Open Mangrove Cover on biennial basis and publishes the findings in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR).
Mangrove cover:The Mangrove cover in the country has increased by 0.34% as compared to the previous assessment.

About Mangroves

Mangroves are a special type of vegetation. And they are found in the intertidal regions where freshwater and saltwater intermixes, in the bays, estuaries, creeks, and lagoons.
They are the salt-tolerant variety of plants, which can survive in harsh conditions. And they are economically and ecologically significant.

Status of Mangrove Cover in India

The mangrove cover in India is 4,992 sq km, which is 15% of the country’s total geographical area.
Increase in the mangrove cover as compared to 2019 assessment: 17 sq km
The states that show significant gain in Mangrove cover are Odisha and Maharashtra.

On the occasion of International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystems, Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd., in collaboration with WWF India (World Wide Fund for Nature, India) launched ‘Magical Mangroves
A nationwide campaign which highlights the significance of mangroves conservation in present times and urges citizens to join the conservation movement.
The volunteers will be engaged for a period of six months and will be part of webinars, film screenings, online quizzes, digital story-telling sessions among other activities.
Over the last few decades, Godrej & Boyce’s Wetland Management Services team has been actively managing and conserving one of the largest mangroves in Mumbai at Vikhroli.
Taking their efforts a notch higher, Godrej has officially joined hands with WWF
India to further strengthen the conservation efforts and promote awareness at a much larger scale across the country.
WWF India has been working towards conserving wetlands across the country in the high altitudes, floodplains, urban centres and Ramsar sites for over two decades now.

Other Initiatives

The Wetland Management Services team at Godrej has been raising awareness about the mangroves ecosystem through several initiatives such as the launch of the one-of-a-kind Mangroves Mobile App available in 11 languages, a unique children’s story book published last year and many more.

In an effort to protect mangroves and sensitise people about its conservation, the World Wide Fund for Nature – India has identified volunteers from various parts of the State and trained them as mangrove ambassadors under magical mangroves
They would spread awareness about the significance of preserving the vital coastal ecosystems.
Presently the volunteers would take up awareness initiatives in eight districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Salem, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Tiruchi and Sivaganga.

1.Understand the importance of mangroves.

Understand what is driving their loss.
Make sustainable choices.
Learn how restoration works.
Be an advocate and an activist.
Make some noise-Awareness

About WWF

WWF India is a science-based organization which addresses issues such as the conservation of species and its habitats, climate change, water and environmental education, among many others.
Established as a Charitable Trust on 27 November, 1969
To stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:
- Conserving the world’s biological diversity
- Ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable
- Promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption

Consider the following statements about the Mangrove forests

I)   Mangrove trees grow in saline coastal regions
II)   Sundarban is world largest mangrove forest
III)   Mangrove forest support varieties of life
IV)   Andaman and Nicobar island also have mangrove forest

Which of above statements are true or correct?