MISHTI Scheme and Great Green Wall of Andhra Pradesh initiative |ForumIAS

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News: Andhra Pradesh secured second place under the MISHTI scheme after restoring 2,047.70 hectares of mangroves during 2025–26.

About MISHTI Scheme

Full form: Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) Scheme
It is a scheme to promote, conserve and restore mangroves for ecological protection and climate resilience.
Launched by: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the scheme in 2023.
Aim: It aims to promote and conserve mangroves, restore degraded areas, strengthen coastal ecosystems and improve climate resilience.
Funding Sources: The scheme promotes convergence of resources from the CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) fund and MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) .
Target: The scheme aims to restore approximately 540 sq. km of mangrove habitats over five years (2023–2028).
Coverage Area: The scheme is being implemented across 11 States – West Bengal, Gujarat, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana – and 2 Union Territories, namely Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
International Significance: The MISHTI scheme aligns India with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC), which India joined during COP27.

It is an ecological restoration project that develops mangroves, shelterbelts, windbreaks, agroforestry and community plantations along the Andhra Pradesh coastline.
Aim: It’s aim is to protect coastal communities and ecosystems from cyclones, floods and erosion.
Inspiration: It draws inspiration from Africa’s Great Green Wall and the Aravalli Green Wall Project.
Funding: It is supported through MGNREGS, CAMPA, Green Credit Programme, District Mineral Funds and International Climate Finance.
Geographical Coverage: It covers Andhra Pradesh’s 1,053-km coastline.
Target: It aims to create a 5-km-wide living ecological shield along the coastline by 2030.
Key features:
- Multi-layered Green Buffer: It includes mangroves, shelterbelts, windbreaks, agroforestry and community plantations.
- Fish Bone Technique: It adopts the Fish Bone Technique to improve tidal water circulation, increase mangrove survival rates and enhance long-term ecological resilience.
- Climate Resilience: It strengthens biodiversity conservation and supports sustainable coastal management.

The Fish Bone Technique is an innovative mangrove restoration method used in degraded areas with poor tidal water flow.
Working Mechanism: It creates a central “backbone” channel with smaller angled feeder channels that divert tidal water into degraded mudflats and mimic natural tidal creeks.
Mangrove Restoration: The improved tidal flow enhances soil salinity and aeration.
- Once suitable conditions are created, mangrove seedlings are planted, and natural regeneration is supported.