Gujarat villagers transformed mangroves into coastal defense shield

Gujarat has significantly expanded its mangrove forests over nearly four decades, with cover growing from 427 square kilometers in 1987 to over 1,177 square kilometers by 2026. This expansion was driven by villagers who began protecting mangroves in the 1980s, supported by large-scale plantation programmes and community participation.

Mangroves serve multiple purposes—providing coastal protection against storms and erosion while supporting marine ecosystems and sustaining local livelihoods. The success of Gujarat's approach has prompted the government to scale it nationally through the MISHTI programme, positioning mangrove restoration as an effective natural infrastructure strategy for coastal defense.