Guj to increase mangrove cover by 120 sq km

The Gujarat state environment and forests department is aiming to bring an additional area of 120 sq km along its coastline under mangrove cover by the end of financial year 2011-12.

"We aim to carry out plantation of mangroves in 120 sq km area by the end of this year. This will increase the mangrove cover in Gujarat from the present 1,080 sq km to 1,200 sq km," said SK Nanda, additional chief secretary, environment and forests, Gujarat Government.

According to sources, at the meeting of the State Wildlife Board (SWD) last month, Chief Minister Narendra Modi had called for taking up a mangrove conservation drive in right earnest, sources said. Following this, Nanda had asked the forest department officials to focus on two projects: Biodiversity Wildlife Conservation and Integrated Coastal Area Mangrove Protection.