The Goa State Environment Department has proposed a new GIS-based assessment to accurately evaluate the state’s mangrove cover, addressing inconsistencies in existing data and identifying areas for potential expansion. Announced on World Environment Day 2025, the Mangrove Management Plan incorporates advanced technologies such as UAV-based LiDAR mapping alongside community participation to create precise and up-to-date maps of mangrove regions.
Goa’s mangrove cover was initially estimated at 20 square kilometers in 1983 and increased to 26 square kilometers through afforestation and natural regeneration efforts by the Forest Department. However, a 2016 study by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) revealed a larger coverage of 41.11 square kilometers, with 33.93 sq km in North Goa and 7.19 sq km in South Goa. This disparity highlights the need for a fresh, more accurate assessment to better manage these vital ecosystems.
The Mangrove Management Plan also focuses on promoting eco-tourism that harmonizes with natural surroundings, regulating fishing to protect shrimp, oyster, and crab populations, and designating new Marine Protected Areas to safeguard biodiversity. The plan encourages involving local communities in mapping and conservation efforts using modern technologies. With sixteen mangrove species identified in Goa, including Avicennia, Rhizophora, Sonneratia, and Kandelia, the department aims to ensure sustainable resource use and strengthen biodiversity conservation along the Goan coast.