Andhra Pradesh ranks second nationally in MISHTI mangrove restoration program

The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department announced that the state has secured second place among India’s coastal states in the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) scheme. Over the 2025‑26 period the department restored more than 2,047 hectares of mangrove forests using the innovative Fish Bone technique, an effort funded jointly by the central and state governments at a cost of roughly ₹13‑18 crore.

The project, implemented together with the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation and overseen by the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority, creates channels in estuaries to ensure proper river‑sea water mixing, supporting natural regeneration. Deputy Chief Minister and State Forest Minister Pawan Kalyan praised the achievement, noting its role in protecting coastlines from cyclones, floods and erosion while providing carbon storage and habitat for marine life. The department set a target to restore an additional 1,618 hectares during 2026‑27.