India's Odisha Reports 16.6% Mangrove Cover Growth; Bhitarkanika 'Fishbone' Model Emerges

Odisha state's mangrove forest cover expanded by 16.6% over the past decade, growing from 222 sq. km in 2011 to 259.06 sq. km by 2023, according to an April 2026 assessment highlighted as a regional model for coastal resilience. Bhitarkanika National Park, holding the largest mangrove area in Odisha at 212+ sq. km, pioneered an innovative 'fishbone channel' restoration technique that regenerated approximately 100 hectares of degraded mangrove within just four years by restoring tidal hydrological flows before any seedling planting. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) provided the core funding. The Odisha model is notable for its hydrological-first approach — addressing the root cause of mangrove die-off before planting — a methodology that sharply contrasts with mass-seedling campaigns that have failed elsewhere in South and Southeast Asia.