Maarg Manthan · Topic 9.6

Legal and Regulatory Approaches for Mangrove Protection

Environment & Ecology › Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems · Topic 9.6

Mangroves in India are protected through several overlapping laws and schemes rather than a single mangrove act. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 is the base for the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, first issued in 1991 and replaced in 2011 and 2019, which treats mangroves as ecologically sensitive: under the 2011 and 2019 notifications, mangrove areas of 1,000 sq m or more, with a 50 m buffer, fall in CRZ-I and development on them is prohibited. Mangroves on forest land are covered by the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and those in protected areas by the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Mangroves are also under the Wetlands Rules, Ramsar, and national schemes like the Mangroves and Coral Reefs scheme and MISHTI (2023). Courts, especially the Bombay High Court in 2018, have strictly enforced protection.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems

At a Glance

Base law Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
Key rule CRZ Notification
CRZ category CRZ-I for mangroves
Buffer 50 m for 1,000 sq m or more
Scheme MISHTI, 2023
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the account of mangrove ecology and distribution. It shows how the law treats them, and leads on to community-based regeneration, which delivers protection on the ground. Previous topic: Mangroves: Definition, Distribution in India, Importance and Threats. Next topic: Community-Based Mangrove Regeneration.

Which Laws and Rules Protect Mangroves in India?

Instrument	Provision for mangroves
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986	Umbrella law under which the CRZ Notification is issued
CRZ Notification, 1991	First coastal rule; mangroves were CRZ-I areas where building was banned
CRZ Notification, 2011	Mangroves of 1,000 sq m and above with a 50 m buffer treated as CRZ-I (ecologically sensitive)
CRZ Notification, 2019	Retained the mangrove protection with the 50 m buffer, while easing rules for other zones and introducing CRZ-III A for dense populations
Indian Forest Act, 1927 and Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980	Mangroves on forest land cannot be diverted without central approval
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972	Mangroves inside sanctuaries and national parks, such as the Sundarbans and Bhitarkanika, are protected
Wetlands Rules, 2017 and Ramsar	Mangrove wetlands as Ramsar sites receive wise-use obligations

How Are Rules Enforced and Supported?

Bombay High Court, 2018: ordered a ban on destruction of mangroves in Maharashtra and directed protection of a 50 m buffer
Mangroves and Coral Reefs scheme: the environment ministry’s national programme from the 1980s, supporting survey, management plans and restoration
MISHTI, 2023: Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes, supporting plantation along the coast and on salt pans
State mangrove cells: such as the Maharashtra Mangrove Cell, set up to protect and restore mangroves
National Green Tribunal: hears cases on mangrove destruction
Coastal zone authorities: State Coastal Zone Management Authorities oversee clearances
Forest Survey of India: maps and reports mangrove cover every two years

What Else Should You Remember?

CRZ-I: ecologically sensitive areas including mangroves, coral reefs, sand dunes, turtle nesting grounds and salt marshes
CRZ-I A: ecologically sensitive areas such as mangroves; CRZ-I B is the intertidal zone
CRZ-II: developed urban coastal areas
CRZ-III: undeveloped or rural coast
CRZ-IV: water area up to territorial limits, plus tidal water bodies
No Development Zone: a zone near the high tide line where building is banned, with variations by class
Mangrove buffer: a strip of 50 m on the river side or the actual width of the mangrove if less
Coastal Zone Management Plan: each coastal state prepares maps showing CRZ areas
Shailesh Nayak committee: a 2014 committee reviewed CRZ rules and suggested changes that fed into the 2019 notification
Swaminathan committee: a 2005 review committee on CRZ proposed integrated coastal zone management
Integrated Coastal Zone Management: a programme supported by the World Bank in several states
Mangrove clearance: projects needing mangrove removal require clearance and compensatory planting
Violation: illegal filling of mangroves has been punished by courts with orders to restore
Shrimp farming: the Supreme Court in 1996 banned aquaculture farms in CRZ areas, ruling against shrimp culture in coastal regulation zones
Aquaculture Authority: set up after the Supreme Court order to regulate coastal aquaculture
Sundarbans: inside a national park, tiger reserve and biosphere reserve with overlapping protection
Mangrove status of ownership: many mangroves are state forest land, others are revenue land or privately held, which complicates protection
International commitments: Ramsar, Convention on Biological Diversity and climate pledges that include blue carbon
Mangrove Alliance for Climate: a 2022 initiative at COP27 by the UAE and Indonesia to promote mangrove restoration
Link to previous: see Mangroves: Definition, Distribution in India, Importance and Threats
Link to next: see Community-Based Mangrove Regeneration
Link to law: see Coastal Regulation Zone Notification
Caution: rules are amended often, so check the latest CRZ notification and court orders
Exam hint: learn the 1991, 2011 and 2019 CRZ dates and the CRZ-I category for mangroves

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Base law: EPA 1986
Category: CRZ-I
Buffer: 50 m
Current affairs link: MISHTI and court orders
Common errors: calling CRZ a separate Act or mixing up CRZ-I and CRZ-III

As an analytical point, mangrove law is strong on paper but weak in ground enforcement, because land is split among forest, revenue and private owners. Mapping, community watch and court monitoring are therefore as important as the notification itself.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Rule CRZ
Category CRZ-I
Support MISHTI

What Came Next?

The next topic covers community-based mangrove regeneration. Next topic: Community-Based Mangrove Regeneration.

Key People and Terms

CRZ Coastal Regulation Zone
CRZ-I Ecologically sensitive coast
Buffer Protective strip
MISHTI Mangrove restoration scheme
CZMP Coastal Zone Management Plan
NDZ No Development Zone

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

CRZ comes under EPA 1986.
Mangroves are CRZ-I.
Buffer is 50 m.
CRZ rules: 1991, 2011, 2019.
MISHTI: 2023.

Do Not Confuse With

CRZ-I and CRZ-III Sensitive versus undeveloped coast
EPA and CRZ Parent Act versus notification
Forest Act and CRZ Forest land versus coast rules

Memory Hook

Eighty-six Act, ninety-one rule, eleven and nineteen reform, mangroves stay one.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for CRZ details and recent steps. These points help.

Laws CRZ
Gaps Enforcement
Way Mapping

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the legal and regulatory framework for protecting mangroves in India and the gaps in implementation.”

How to Answer

Laws CRZ, forest.
Courts Orders.
Gaps Land mix.
Way Community.

GS Relevance

Prelims: CRZ categories, laws, schemes. GS Paper 3: environmental laws and coastal governance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which law protects mangroves in India?

There is no single mangrove law. Mangroves are protected by the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, by the forest laws when they are on forest land, and by the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 when inside protected areas. Court orders and schemes add to this protection.

How does the CRZ Notification treat mangroves?

Under the CRZ Notification of 2011 and 2019, mangrove areas of 1,000 square metres or more, along with a 50 metre buffer, are placed in CRZ-I, the ecologically sensitive category, where construction and industries are not allowed, except limited permitted activities. The rule applies to mangroves on any type of land.

What did the Bombay High Court decide on mangroves?

In 2018 the Bombay High Court banned the destruction of mangroves in Maharashtra, protected a 50 metre buffer around them, ordered that mangrove land be handed to the forest department and restricted construction debris dumping. It told authorities to protect all mangroves, whether on public or private land.

What is MISHTI?

MISHTI stands for Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes, announced in the Union Budget of 2023. It aims to plant and restore mangroves along the coast and on salt pan lands, using convergence with other schemes, and links protection with income for coastal communities.

Why is enforcement of mangrove protection difficult?

Mangrove land belongs to different owners, including forest, revenue and private holders, so responsibility is divided. Illegal filling, reclamation, shrimp farms and waste dumping often happen in remote creeks, and penalties are slow. Clear mapping, satellite monitoring and community watch groups are needed to improve compliance.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Mangroves are classed as CRZ-I areas.

True

Ecologically sensitive.

2 The CRZ Notification is issued under the Wildlife Protection Act.

False

Under the EPA 1986.

3 The Bombay High Court banned mangrove destruction in 2018.