Maharashtra has a long coastline of about 720 kilometres, which is home to a diverse range of coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, corals, rocky shores, sandy shores, mudflats, etc. The coastal and marine environment not only supports an astounding variety of flora and fauna but also provides a number of ecosystem services, which are crucial to the sustenance of life and renders livelihood security to coastal communities.
Taking this into consideration, for the protection and conservation of mangroves ecosystem, research programmes on endangered species in coastal and marine habitat and to pilot projects for improving the livelihood of coastal communities through sustainable livelihood activities, The Mangrove Cell was established in 2012 by the Government of Maharashtra under the Forest Department.
Mangrove Cell is headed by Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF). In addition, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) was appointed to boost the efforts of mangrove protection in the State.
Considering the increasing pressures of development, waste dumping, pollution and encroachment in the state, two new sections called Mangrove Division North Konkan and Mangrove Division South Konkan have been formed under the Mangrove on August 02, 2024 and is headed by respective Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs).
The establishment of the Mangrove Cell initiated a series of measures for the conservation of mangroves in Maharashtra. Mangrove Cell has taken a block by block approach towards mangrove conservation from raising mangrove nurseries to large-scale plantations in degraded areas to conducting ‘Clean Mangrove Campaigns’ to various awareness programmes.
For further details contact us on
ccfmangrove@mahaforest.gov.in
dfommcu@gmail.com
dfom.southkonkan@gmail.com