Page 32 - Mann Ki Baat - English

With a total length of 2340.62 km, Gujarat
has the longest coastline in the country.
The Bhal region of Saurasthra peninsula
is located off the western shore of Gulf of
Khambhat. This is the area where Dholera is
located. The Gujarat Forest Department has
been undertaking continuous plantation of
mangroves in the mudflats of Dholera, thus
creating an effective ‘Green Shield’ with a
plethora of ecological and economic benefits
to the local stakeholders.
Benefits of the Mangrove restoration
project to local community stakeholders in
and around Dholera:
The mangrove plantation drive at Dholera
Arjunbhai region has increased the catch of fish, crabs
Modhwadia
and other commercial marine products to the
Minister of Forest
and Environment, fishing community. Also, there is benefit to the
Climate Change & community stakeholders in terms of better
Science and Technology, resilience to extreme weather events, due
Gujarat
to the protective nature of the mangroves,
which serve as a green wall along the sea
THE coast.

In Dholera, the scale of planting (3,500
MANGROVE ha plus) is resulting in stronger resilience
EFFECT against salinity ingress into the farmlands
nearby.
Mangrove Learning Center at Padala
Island, Kori Creek
Kutch has 71 per cent of the total
mangrove area of Gujarat. Under the MISHTI
(Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats
and Tangible Incomes) scheme, Kutch West
Forest Division is doing mangrove plantation
and other activities in the Kori creek area.
More than 1.5 lakh tourists visit Narayan
Sarovar - Koteshwar area every year which is
a part of the border tourism circuit.

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