Description

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Context:

A report titled Blue Carbon and its Role in Carbon Sequestration published in 2024 revealed that mangroves alone can store more than 1,000 tons of carbon per hectare.

About Blue Carbon

Blue carbon is carbon captured by the world's ocean and coastal ecosystems. World mangroves, seabed, and salt swamps include "blue carbon ecosystems".
They are the most effective carbons of nature. Coast ecosystems such as mangroves, tidal swamps, and marine meadows, sequences and deposit more carbon on a unit of areas than earthly forests, and now recognize their role in mitigating climate change.
Activities cause loss of ecosystems of coastal blue carbon: The main causes of transformation and degradation of blue carbon ecosystems vary all over the world but are largely driven by human activities.
Joint drivers are aquaculture, agriculture, mangrove forest exploitation, earthly and marine sources of pollution, and industrial and urban coastal development.

Economic benefits of mangrove restoration in India

The renewed mangroves attracted significant ecotourism and in 2023 government funds attracted the political reforms of the Coast Regulatory Zone.
According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in June 2023, integrated recovery methods could increase coastal GDP by up to 15%.
The Economic Cooperation and Development Organization (OECD) 2024 states that for every $ 1 invested in the renewal of blue carbon, $ 6 will return to economic benefits.

Importance of blue carbon ecosystems

They have the potential to help people and the coastal environment alleviate and adapt to climate change. They help maintain the environment by relieving climate change.
These ecosystems also provide basic benefits to adapt to climate change, including coastal and food protection for many coastal communities.

Government Initiative for Mangrove Renewal

The aim of the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) is to restore 540 km of mangroves in several countries, with more than 250 km2 to be restored by December 2024.

India’s Coastal Regulation Zone Policy reforms:

Key Provisions of Coast Regulation Zone (CRZ)	Details
Declaration	Coastal areas up to 500 m from the High Tide Line (HTL) and the land between HTL and Low Tide Line (LTL) are declared as CRZ.
HTL Definition	The line where the highest water level reaches during spring tides; defined uniformly across the country by authorized bodies.
Regulation of Development	Tidal effects in rivers, streams, and water bodies determine the regulation of development activities.
Zoning System	CRZ areas are divided into four zones: CRZ-I, CRZ-II, CRZ-III, and CRZ-IV.

Zone	Key Features
CRZ-I	Ecologically sensitive areas like national parks, mangroves, coral reefs, and areas prone to flooding.
CRZ-II	Developed coastal areas within municipal limits with proper infrastructure like drainage and roads.
CRZ-III	Relatively undisturbed rural coastal areas and urban areas not substantially developed.
CRZ-IV	Coastal stretches in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and small islands.

Prohibited Activities in CRZ

Establishing/expanding industries, except those requiring water access or atomic energy.

Production, storage, or disposal of hazardous substances (except at ports or terminals).

Discharge of untreated waste or sewage.

Reclamation of land, disruption of sea water flow, or dredging (except for port projects).

Harvesting groundwater within 200 m of HTL; limited permissions allowed in the 200-500 m zone for specific purposes.

Permissible Activities in CRZ

CRZ-I: Major infrastructure projects (e.g., pipelines, greenfield airports), and small projects in non-sensitive areas.

CRZ-II: Construction/reconstruction of buildings, and storage facilities for petroleum products.

CRZ-III: Establishing "no-development zones" within 200 m of HTL, with exceptions for repairs of legitimate structures.

CRZ-IV: Wastewater treatment plans, protecting traditional fishing rights, and preparation of Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs).

Source:

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PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Blue carbon" refers to the carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems. Discuss its significance in mitigating climate change, the challenges it faces, and the measures required for its conservation and sustainable management in the context of India's coastal regions. (250 words)