In the State Assembly, Odisha’s Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Minister, Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, announced the notable presence and growth of mangrove forests across five coastal districts in the state.
According to the State of Forest Report-2023, these districts—Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore, and Puri—are home to a total of 259.06 square kilometers of mangrove forests.
The minister highlighted that the total mangrove forest area in the state has increased by 1.55 square kilometers over the past two years, indicating successful conservation and plantation efforts. Kendrapara leads with 212.69 square kilometers, followed by Bhadrak (32.39 sq km), Jagatsinghpur (8.42 sq km), Balasore (4.82 sq km), and Puri (0.74 sq km).
In response to the increasing frequency of cyclones, the state government has been actively planting mangrove saplings in suitable coastal areas. Between the financial years 2022-23 and 2024-25, approximately 1,198 hectares of coastal land were planted with mangrove saplings.
The minister emphasized the importance of mangrove forests in reducing the impact of cyclones and stressed the government’s commitment to continuing these conservation efforts.
