Mangroves and Coastal Infrastructure: Restoration for Ports

7 October 2026 4 min read Grow Billion Trees team

Ports and coastal projects sit where mangroves protect the shore, so restoration is often the most useful green work they can fund. The MISHTI programme, launched on 5 June 2023, aims to restore about 540 sq km of mangroves over five years. The Harit Sagar guidelines ask Major Ports to protect shore and mangrove habitats. Restoration works when hydrology is fixed first and survival is tracked for years.

Why mangroves matter to coastal infrastructure

PIB describes mangroves as having high carbon storage capacity and as breeding grounds for marine life. The government also calls them a bio-shield for the coast.

For a port, jetty or coastal road, that shield is practical. Healthy mangrove fringes slow waves and hold sediment near the asset.

What rules and programmes apply?

Instrument	What it says	Source
MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes)	Launched 5 June 2023. About 540 sq km across 9 states and 3 UTs over five years from 2023-24. States to converge existing schemes	PIB, Feb 2024
MISHTI objectives	Sharing best practice and mobilising resources through public-private partnership	PIB, Apr 2023
Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2019	Listed by the ministry among the regulatory measures that protect mangroves	PIB, Feb 2024
Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines, 2023	Major Ports: green belt above 20% of port area by 2030 and 33% by 2047. Protect shore, mangrove forest and habitats	MoPSW

PIB also reported that India's mangrove cover rose by 252 sq km between 2015 and 2021. Programmes such as MISHTI aim to build on that.

What does good mangrove restoration look like?

Mangroves fail most often because the water does not reach them properly. Planting into the wrong tidal level wastes seedlings.

Fix hydrology first. Restore tidal channels that were blocked by bunds, roads or dumping.
Match the zone. Plant species at the tidal level where they grow naturally on that coast.
Use local stock. Raise propagules and seedlings from nearby healthy stands.
Protect the site. Keep out cattle, prevent cutting, and remove plastic and debris.
Work with communities. Fishing families know the creek and are the best guards.
Monitor for years. Count survival and canopy at fixed plots and repeat photos.

How a port or coastal developer can plan it

Step	What to do	Who is involved
1. Scope	Map degraded mangrove and mudflat near the asset; check CRZ status	Environment team, consultant
2. Permission	Agree the site and method with the State Forest Department	Forest division
3. Design	Plan channels, species zones and nursery	Restoration partner
4. Plant and protect	Plant in the right season; fence or guard where needed	Partner, local community
5. Monitor and report	Geo-tagged plots, survival counts, photo records	Partner, EHS team

Mangrove work on land owned or managed by the forest department needs its approval. Do not plant on mudflats or salt pans without checking their legal status.

Can mangrove restoration earn carbon credits?

Do not count on it for compliance. Under India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, compliance targets are about the emission intensity of covered plants. Our CCTS guide explains where tree and mangrove projects stand. Any carbon figure we give is an estimate.

Mangrove restoration fits better as CSR, as a green belt or habitat commitment, and as a BRSR Principle 6 disclosure. See where it goes in your BRSR report.

Measuring success

A mangrove site should be judged on what survives and spreads, not on seedlings planted.

Indicator	How to measure	When
Seedling survival	Counts in fixed plots	Every quarter in year one, then twice a year
Tidal flow	Check channels are open at high tide	Before planting and after storms
Canopy and height	Repeat photos and simple height measures	Every year
Natural regeneration	New seedlings that were not planted	Every year
Threats	Cutting, grazing, debris, encroachment	Every visit

The community role

Fishing and farming families who use the creek know where water flows and where seedlings wash out. Involve them in nursery work, planting and watch.

MISHTI lists sustainable livelihoods and shoreline protection among its aims. A port that funds community-led restoration supports both.

Coastal green belts on port land

Inside the port boundary, salt and wind limit what grows. Use salt-tolerant native species and shelter rows on the windward side. Keep green belt records separate from mangrove restoration records, because Harit Sagar measures green belt as a share of port area.

How Grow Billion Trees helps

We run mangrove restoration with local communities and forest departments, with geo-tagged plots and three years of care. Progress is reported on GreenTrack. Projects are priced per project after a site survey. See our infrastructure projects page to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MISHTI?

The Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes, launched on 5 June 2023. It aims to restore about 540 sq km of mangroves over five years from 2023-24.

Do ports have a green cover target?

Yes. The Harit Sagar guidelines ask Major Ports for green belt above 20% of port area by 2030, and 33% by 2047.

Can a private company fund mangrove restoration?

Yes, with the land owner's approval, usually the State Forest Department. MISHTI lists public-private partnership for resource mobilisation among its objectives.