The Sri Lankan Ministry of Environment has announced a $25 million mangrove restoration project, aiming to revive over 10,000 hectares of degraded coastal ecosystems by 2028. The plan focuses on Puttalam, Batticaloa, and Hambantota districts.
Mangroves are crucial in protecting coastlines from erosion and acting as nurseries for marine life. The initiative is expected to boost local fishing communities and serve as a natural barrier against future cyclones.
Environmentalists in West Bengal, Odisha, and Bangladesh — regions with shared mangrove heritage — are watching the program closely, with calls to launch similar restoration efforts across the Sundarbans delta.