Focus on conservation, restoration, and community involvement
Panaji: The state government has introduced a comprehensive Mangrove Management Plan aimed at conserving existing ecosystems, restoring degraded zones, and strengthening local community participation in coastal protection.
The plan covers mangroves across the entire Goa coast, including seven estuaries with intricate creek and backwater networks. Key focus areas include the Mandovi-Zuari estuarine complex, and other estuaries such as Sal, Talpona, and Galgibag.
The Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary at Chorao Island, located in the Mandovi estuary, and cur-rently the only designated Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the state, is also part of the initiative.
Mangrove cover estimates in Goa vary. In 1983, it was 20 sqkm. Subsequent afforestation programmes are said to have expanded it to 26 sqkm. A 2016 assessment by the National Center for Sustainable Coastal Management reported it at 41.11 sqkm—33.93 sqkm in North Goa and 7.19 sqkm in South Goa. Sixteen mangrove species have been identified in Goa, in-cluding genera like Avicennia, Rhizophora, Sonneratia, and Kandelia.
The plan also seeks to resolve land-use conflicts between mangrove preservation and khazan farming by using scientific assessments, encroachment data, and local knowledge. It proposes identifying additional estuarine lands for future MPAs, particularly those under government ownership.
Conservation efforts will include biodiversity mapping of shellfish habitats, breeding grounds, and wildlife corridors. Restoration of degraded mangrove areas will follow climate-resilient approaches, with demarcation of mangrove zones and creation of 50-metre buffer areas.
Community engagement is key, with plans to involve locals in restoration and resource man-agement. Women’s self-help groups will be encouraged to participate in eco-tourism ventures linked to mangrove habitats.
The plan has been jointly developed by the Department of Environment and Climate Change, the Forest Department, scientific institutions, and local stakeholders through a series of multi-stakeholder consultations. It seeks to address critical gaps in mangrove conservation and their sustainable management.
