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Ahmedabad, Oct 26 (IANS) In the 127th episode of his iconic radio program ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Gujarat’s victory in mangrove conservation as an example of ecological resilience, drawing parallels between the forests that bind the hilly terrain and the mangroves that protect coastal ecosystems.
PM Modi emphasized how these “green protectors” reduce natural disasters like tsunami while promoting biodiversity and livelihoods.
“Forests bind the soil in the mountains and plains; similarly, mangroves are the lifeline of our coasts,” he said, invoking the spirit of environmental stewardship amid greetings for the upcoming Chhath Puja, which he described as a “profound unity of culture, nature and society.”
At the center of PM Modi’s address was the transformative story of Dholera of the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat.
Under proactive efforts of the state forest department, more than 3,500 hectares of mangroves – mainly Avicennia marina species – have been planted in the last five years, in line with the central government’s MISHTI (Mangroves Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Income) scheme launched in 2023.
The initiative has made Gujarat a national leader, with 19,020 hectares being afforested in just two years, increasing the state’s mangrove area to 1,175 square kilometers – the second largest in India after the Sundarbans. The results are shocking. The 2024 Wildlife Census revealed an increase in marine life on the regenerated shores of Dholera.
“More number of dolphins frolicking,” PM Modi said, crediting the community’s participation, “and the increasing population of crabs…this is nature’s way of thanking us.”
Reiterating these successes, PM Modi highlighted Kori Creek in Kutch district, one of India’s richest mangrove belts spread over 795 sq km. Here, the Forest Department runs a dedicated mangrove restoration centre, which integrates animal welfare programs that rescue and rehabilitate coastal wildlife. If reports are to be believed, the recent sighting of several dolphins across 4,087 sq km from Kutch to Bhavnagar confirms the ecosystem’s rebound, transforming degraded shores into vibrant habitats.
The 2024 census echoed positive trends: sightings of 7,672 wild donkeys in the Rann of Kutch (an increase of 26 percent), as well as otters, jackals and sea birds, increased.
The inland mangroves at Guneri village, which was declared Gujarat’s first biodiversity heritage site in January, underpin Kutch’s unique ecosystem, possibly the remains of ancient river structures.
Encouraged by these “positive news”, the Ahmedabad Social Forestry Division announced its first marine life survey for the coasts of the district, inspired by a similar 2024 initiative in Kutch. It will assess fish stocks, invertebrates and dolphin movements, building on Gujarat’s overall mangrove expansion of 6,930 hectares in 2023-24, with a further 12,000 planned for 2025-26. Such surveys are intended to inform policy, promote eco-tourism and sustainable fisheries amid a 2 percent decline in national marine fishing catches last year.
PM Modi concluded with a heartfelt call, “Wherever we live, plant a tree in the name of our mother under ‘One Tree in Mother’s Name’.”
He urged citizens to contribute through MyGov or NaMo app with an eye on tree plantation as a tribute to maternal nutrition and planetary health.
“Trees transcend borders to benefit every living being,” he said, linking it to global goals like the LiFE movement.
With Gujarat leading MISHTI efforts, PM Modi’s message says, “Conservation is collective, leading to tangible gains in biodiversity and disaster resilience.”
–IANS
SKTR/DPB