Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission (TN-SHORE) is a landmark project announced in 2025 to enhance resilience against climate change of the state and protection of its vulnerable coastal ecosystems. Backed by the World Bank funded over Rs1,000 crore and another 675 crore by the Tamil Nadu government the mission combines community-based development and environmental protection.
Rebuilding Nature, Building Communities.
The main objective of mission is to rehabilitate 30,000 hectares of coastal seascapes and primarily the mangroves. These are important ecosystems that preserve shoreline as well as guard against erosion and storm surges in addition to promoting biodiversity. Approximately 1,000 hectares of mangroves will be restored through TN-SHORE, out of which 300 hectares will be new mangrove, and 700 hectares the degraded one.
Alongside social transformation, a significant innovativeness is the establishment of village mangrove councils, led by representatives of the community as well as the officials in the forest. These councils also have the direct authority to dispose of funds, allocations of up to [?]8 lakh not involving tender. The system is considered to guarantee faster and more open implementation as well as promoting good community ownership.
Scientific and Legal Support.
In order to provide long term security, the replenished mangrove lands will be proclaimed reserve forests in order to protect them against encroachment in the future. The restoration sites comprise abandoned aquaculture ponds, and unused salt pans as well as degraded lands to ensure optimum utilization of the unutilized areas.
The National Centre of Sustainable Coastal Management is also supplying scientific inputs of which is coastline mapping which is then verified by ground-truth. The collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation are other approaches which enhance the scientific and social aspects of the project.
Diversifying the Heart of Biodiversity.
The mission is critically applied in the conservation of the endangered species of the sea as in the turtles and dugongs by recreating their habitats. It also seeks to establish a sustainable economy in the coastal areas through eco-tourism, plastic management, and environmental-friendly livelihoods to the coastal economic residents.
TN-SHORE is a visionary approach to the environment involving a synergistic approach between scientific planning, legal protection, and civil societal participation. Besides renewing ecosystems, it has a positive impact on the local, strengthening the coastline of Tamil Nadu, making it greener and more resilient against the future.
Month: Current Affairs - September 27, 2025
Category: current affairs daily