T.N. MANGROVES STORE 8.73 LAKH TONNES OF CARBON STOCK

The first-of-its-kind study on mangroves integrates remote sensing with ground truthing. In the last three years, the Tiruvarur forest division has taken up mangrove restoration works in over 2,000 hectares under TBGPCCR, NABARD and CAMPA schemes. Mangroves act as bioshields against climate extremes

- S V KRISHNA CHAITANYA @Chennai

TAMIL Nadu's mangrove forests collectively store 8.73 lakh tonnes of carbon stock, making them a crucial asset in combating climate change through carbon sequestration. According to a recent study by the Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management (CCCDM) at Anna University, submitted to the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project for Climate Change Response (TBGPCCR), the state's mangrove cover expanded from 4,500 hectares in 2021 to 9,039 hectares in 2024. This increase has been driven by both natural regeneration and afforestation efforts. New plantations account for 40.1% of the total mangrove cover established over the past decade.