Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday celebrated Gujarat’s mangrove revival in the 127th episode of his radio programme Mann Ki Baat, calling it a model of ecological resilience and community action.
PM Modi praised mangroves as ‘green guardians’ that protect coastal regions from tsunamis, support biodiversity, and sustain livelihoods. “Mangroves bind and protect our coasts, just as jungles bind the soil in hills and plains,” he said. He linked the message to the upcoming Chhath Puja, describing it as a union of culture, nature, and society.
The PM highlighted the transformation of Dholera in the Gulf of Khambhat, where the Gujarat Forest Department planted over 3,500 hectares of Avicennia marina mangroves in five years. The effort aligns with the Central government’s MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes) scheme launched in 2023.
Gujarat now leads nationally with 19,020 hectares afforested in two years, expanding its mangrove cover to 1,175 sq km, second only to the Sundarbans. PM Modi noted wildlife gains, including rising dolphin populations and thriving crabs along revitalised shores.
He also spotlighted Kori Creek in Kutch district, home to 795 sq km of mangroves and a dedicated restoration centre. The centre integrates animal welfare, rescuing coastal wildlife. Reports indicate dolphin sightings across 4,087 sq km from Kutch to Bhavnagar, signalling ecosystem recovery. The 2024 wildlife census recorded 7,672 wild asses in the Rann of Kutch, a 26% increase, alongside more otters, jackals, and seabirds.
PM Modi underscored Guneri village, Gujarat’s first Biodiversity Heritage Site, as an example of inland mangroves and ancient riverine ecosystems. Inspired by Kutch, Ahmedabad’s Social Forestry Division announced its first marine life survey to monitor fish, invertebrates, and dolphin movements. Gujarat added 6,930 hectares of mangroves in 2023-24 and plans 12,000 more in 2025-26.
Concluding, PM Modi urged citizens to plant trees nationwide under the campaign Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam. He encouraged participation via MyGov or the NaMo App, framing tree planting as a tribute to maternal nurturing and planetary health.
“Trees benefit every being and strengthen our planet,” he said, linking the effort to global LiFE goals. PM Modi’s address highlighted how community-led conservation can protect biodiversity and boost disaster resilience.
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