Mangrove GIS portal
Why in News?
The Mangrove GIS (MGIS) Portal was launched on 13 September 2026 by Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav during a Workshop on Mangrove Conservation, Restoration and Sustainable Management held at Bhuj, Kachchh (Gujarat).
Core Objective & Technology
- Science-Based Monitoring: The portal acts as a dedicated centralized engine to strengthen data-backed decision-making and scientific evaluation of highly vulnerable coastal habitats.
- Geospatial Mapping: It integrates remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) frameworks to record geospatial data, allowing mapping of canopy density, distribution, and habitat alterations over time.
Enhancing Restoration Under MISHTI
- Targeted Interventions: The platform hosts essential spatial data to pinpoint critical zones, including ecologically complex territories like the Kori Creek region in Kachchh, which spans 12,450 hectares of the state's restoration layout.
- Site-Specific Planning: It supports conservationists in identifying unique local conditions to execute custom, site-specific restoration methodologies.
Accompanying Knowledge Products
To complement the launch of the digital portal, the government released structural literature to serve as a baseline for environmental researchers:
To complement the launch of the digital portal, the government released structural literature to serve as a baseline for environmental researchers:
- Mangroves Atlas of Gujarat: A comprehensive mapping resource detailing existing spatial variations of the state’s coastline.
- Coffee Table Book on Kachchh Mangroves: Documenting the rich biodiversity and unique environmental landscape of the Kachchh region.
Focus on Community & Allied Ecosystems
- Community Inclusivity: The tech platform runs parallel to on-ground community-led conservation. (During the event, the Guneri Inland Mangrove Village Biodiversity Management Committee was recognized for preserving the rare Guneri inland mangroves, which became Gujarat’s first Biodiversity Heritage Site in January 2025).
- Livelihood Tracking: The overarching system assists in monitoring programs aimed at generating sustainable livelihoods for local populations, such as seaweed cultivation and allied biodiversity enhancement programs.
