It is understood that mangroves serve as barriers to coastal storms, conservers of soil, supporters of sustainable fisheries, providers of medical plants and fuel wood and fodder, habitats of wide range flora and fauna, sources of genes for sea water tolerance and above all as the flagships of nature’s ecological security system in coastal estuaries. They also serve as spawning and nursery grounds for many economically important marine resources. Despite the multi-functionality of mangrove ecosystems, they are undergoing widespread degradation in 26 villages of Guntur district due to a serious neglect and a combination of physical, biological, anthropogenic and social factors. The rampant loss and over exploitation of mangroves and unscientific resource management have finally resulted in gradual depletion of marine resources and livelihood insecurity for dependent traditional Fisherfolk families. Several Studies including the Post Tsunami Surveys made it clear that the fishing is not profitable if mangroves are not protected.

The overall objective of the project is to ensure livelihood security for the mangrove stakeholders such as wood and thatch cutters, fuel and fodder collectors, honey extractors, fishermen and crab harvesters through education, motivation and training on sustainable management and harvesting of mangrove resources. Local demand on mangroves will be minimized through facilitating Community based mangrove resource management systems and making steadfast efforts to conserve and increase marine resources in the light of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Act.

Education and Capacity building of Grassroots institutions on mangrove resource management, basing on participatory principles, will be a key strategy to sustain the project impact. Federation of Grassroots institutions on the other will carryout advocacy and lobbying required for resource mobilization, strict implementation of CRZ Act and to deal with policy issues like declaring the mangrove areas as Bio-Reserve Zone. A deep insight and training on Income generation activities will provide additional incomes to the Fisherfolk families and financial sustainability of the project will be ensured through accessing the resources on cooperative lines.