The Salt Marsh Protection Initiative is a key action under the GCF-GoI supported ECRICC Project in Odisha, dedicated to the conservation, management, and restoration of Odisha’s vital salt marsh ecosystems. Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar (IITBBS) in collaboration with West Bengal State University and James Cook University, Australia, engaged as a Technical Support Agency (TSA) for this initiative in Odisha. This initiative leverages advanced scientific research and global best practices to promote ecosystem resilience along the Odisha coast.

The initiative aims to protect and restore salt marsh habitats across selected ECRICC landscapes — Chilika (Ganjam), Bahuda, Talasari, and Bhitarkanika — enhancing their role in biodiversity support, carbon sequestration, shoreline protection, and climate change mitigation.

Process Followed

The initiative follows a structured, scientific process as outlined below:

Through this scientifically robust and community-inclusive approach, the Salt Marsh Protection Initiative under ECRICC aims to:

• Restore degraded salt marsh ecosystems,
• Enhance coastal biodiversity,
• Strengthen Odisha’s natural coastal defenses,
• Support blue carbon strategies for climate change mitigation,
• Foster local livelihoods through ecosystem services.