Japanese bank to fund Gujarats mangrove plantation

Japan Bank for International Co-operation sanctions Rs 832-cr loan which will be used for mangrove and forest development over 5 yrs

The state Forest Department has begun planting mangroves in the coastal areas of Kutch with the assistance of Japan Bank for International Co-operation this week. The department intends to increase the mangrove cover in the state from its current 936 sq km to 1086 sq km over the next five years, according to Chief Conservator of Forest DS Narve who is in charge the project planning, monitoring and evaluation looks after mangrove forestation. The Japanese bank has approved a loan of Rs 832. To be disbursed in instalments over five years, the money will be spent on the development of mangrove and other forest covers in the state, Narve said. The reason for selecting Kutch as the beginning point is because the region accounts for the highest fish catch in the state and the mangroves work as breeding ground for various species, said Kutch District Forest officer N Vasavada. Kori creek in Kutch offers a rich haul. These fish come to the mangroves to breed. According to Narve, Gujarat has a mangrove cover of 936 sq km. Of these Kutch alone accounts for about 700 sq km followed by 150 q km in Jamnagar and 96 sq km in Bhavnagar and south Gujarat districts. The direct and indirect benefits from mangroves in Kutch alone has been estimated to be worth Rs 600 crore a year, Vasavada claimed. Apart from being natural hatchery for fish, mangrove cover protects the population from cyclone and tsunami. It also checks salinity ingress in the coastal areas, he pointed out.