[Answered] Despite their economic value, blue carbon ecosystems like mangroves are absent from policy frameworks. Examine the governance reforms needed to integrate natural capital into development planning for sustainable coastal resource management.

Introduction

Mangroves, vital blue carbon ecosystems, provide climate resilience, livelihood support, and ecosystem services worth billions. Yet, they remain undervalued and underrepresented in mainstream development policy and financial accounting frameworks.

The Economic and Ecological Value of Mangroves

1. Natural Capital Powerhouse: Mangroves sequester up to 4 times more carbon than terrestrial forests, storing ~1,000 tonnes per hectare.
2. Protection Services: A 2020 World Bank report estimated that mangroves reduce annual flood damage costs by over $65 billion globally.
3. Indian Case Studies: Sundarbans: Carbon sequestration valued at ₹462 million annually; total services valued at ₹664 billion. Pichavaram (Tamil Nadu): Ecosystem value estimated at ₹3,535 million.
4. Livelihood Linkages: Support ~4 million coastal fishers in India; serve as nurseries for shrimp and fish species.

Despite this, mangroves are often treated as ‘wastelands’ in land classification and excluded from cost-benefit analysis in infrastructure projects like ports, coastal highways, and tourism facilities.

Governance Gaps and Policy Blind Spots

1. Invisibility in Economic Planning: Mangroves are missing from national accounting systems like GDP and balance sheets, failing to reflect their true value in development decisions. Natural Capital is not integrated into the State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs) or Smart City Missions.
2. Regulatory Weaknesses: While India’s Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019 offers some protection, enforcement is weak. Fragmented jurisdiction between MoEFCC, State Forest Departments, Coastal Zone Authorities, and urban planning bodies leads to ineffective coordination.
3. Lack of Incentives for Conservation: Current policies do not create financial incentives for community conservation or carbon sequestration services. Mangrove-linked eco-tourism and sustainable aquaculture remain underdeveloped.

Reforms Needed for Integrating Natural Capital

1. Mainstream Natural Capital Accounting (NCA): Adopt System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) as recommended by the UN. Institutionalize Green GDP indicators and integrate ecological services into project appraisal frameworks of bodies like NITI Aayog and Ministry of Finance.
2. Strengthen Legal Frameworks: Amend the Indian Forest Act and CRZ rules to explicitly include mangroves as climate infrastructure. Mandate environmental impact assessments (EIA) to include valuation of ecosystem services and blue carbon stock.
3. Community-Based Governance Models: Empower Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) and Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) to co-manage urban mangroves. Offer Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) to communities engaging in restoration and monitoring.
4. Digital Mapping and Citizen Science: Use satellite and drone technologies with AI algorithms for real-time mangrove mapping and change detection. Encourage platforms like “Mangrove Mitras” to build citizen-led monitoring networks.
5. Dedicated Blue Carbon Missions: Launch a National Blue Carbon Mission under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), aligning with India’s Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy submitted at COP27.

Global Best Practices

1. Ecuador provides mangrove concessions to communities for sustainable use and protection.
2. Australia integrates mangroves into its national accounting through the Environmental-Economic Accounts Framework.

India can draw from these models to create its own holistic approach to coastal sustainability.

Conclusion

Recognizing mangroves as economic and ecological infrastructure is vital for resilient coastal development. Governance reforms must institutionalize their value, empower communities, and embed natural capital in mainstream planning processes.