Excellencies and distinguished guests,
On behalf of the Government of India, let me express my heartfelt gratitude to the Presidency of COP28, UAE, for extending a vibrant platform for discussions that aim to steer the world towards a shared sustainable future.
I also thank Her Excellency, Mariam Bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, UAE and His Excellency Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesia Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs, Indonesia for hosting the first Ministerial meeting of the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC).
Working under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has adopted a holistic approach towards conservation. We are not just focused on reducing emissions to tackle temperature rise, but are also working towards arresting land degradation, accelerating ecosystem restoration and enriching biodiversity.
The value of biodiversity to humankind also lies in its economic dimension alongside the cultural and social aspects.
As part of this effort, in Budget 2023-24, the Indian government, building on India’s success in afforestation, rolled out the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes or, MISHTI. Under this scheme, mangrove plantations along the coastline and on salt pans are being taken up.
As India’s Environment Minister, I have myself been participating in events across India’s tidal regions such as the coastal areas of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu where mangrove plantation drives are being organised. I am proud to share that people are turning out in overwhelming numbers to plant mangroves. This environmentally conscious behaviour presents an example of deep ecology in practice where we are realising the inherent worth of all living beings regardless of their instrumental utility to human needs.
Ladies and gentlemen
The mangrove ecosystem in India offers a unique example of existing in harmony with nature. The Sunderbans, lying along eastern India, offers the largest contiguous mangrove forest in the world. Interestingly, the Sundarban mangroves are the only mangrove habitat for tigers worldwide. The Sundarban is of critical importance for dolphins, crocodiles and the critically endangered turtles and also the people who live in the region.
The Indian state of Gujarat, which has the second highest mangrove cover in the country, has shown an improvement in mangrove cover of over 250 square kilomotres from 2001 to 2021.
I do humbly believe that the world has much to gain from India’s experience in mangrove conservation because we have shown expertise in the area for nearly five decades. India has restored different types of mangrove ecosystems.
Our Hon’ble PM believes that global cooperation is the surest way to meeting shared challenges such as climate change. India became a member of the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC), initiated by the UAE and Indonesia, during COP 27 at Egypt. Our team of officials has also visited Indonesia for exposure tours and we remain committed to engage with the platform for sharing the best practices and experiences.
In its NDCs, India has committed to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.
But we cannot only conserve, preserve and restore. We must also promote sustainable use to address the developmental aspirations of our people.
At COP15 in Montreal, Canada, India stated that sustainable use and access and benefit sharing are key to promoting biodiversity, alongside the efforts to conserve, protect and restore.
MISHTI will provide ecological co-benefits in terms of indirect economic growth worth Rs. 51.78 billion per year, and additional carbon sink is estimated to be about 4.5 million tons in 10-year horizon. These contributions will help India achieve its NDC target.
In addition, mangroves also help with natural coastal protection for adaptation of local communities against the increasing frequency of cyclones and erosion. Moreover, Restoration, Conservation and Management of Forest Cover including mangrove forests are one of the elements of India’s Long-Term Low Carbon Development Strategy.
I am of the belief that Mangrove Alliance for Climate will continue to further the sustainability agenda as a united whole.
Thank you.
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MJPS/SS