Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas (ICMBAs)

 

(Photo: Bijoy Das Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary)

 

India has taken several steps to achieve the National Biodiversity Target no 6 and Aichi Biodiversity Target no 11 which aim to conserve a substantial portion of the coastal and marine areas in the country and world respectively. Towards achieving these two targets, 106 coastal and marine sites have been identified and prioritized as Important Coastal and Marine Areas (ICMBAs) by the Wildlife Institute of India. Sixty-two ICMBAs have been identified along the west coast of India, and 44 have been identified along the east coast. Of these, 22 ICMBAs have been prioritized for immediate conservation actions and proposed to be upgraded as Protected Areas under categories such as Conservation or Communities Reserve to increase participation of the local communities in governance. more details..

 

Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas (ICMBAs) in India

State

District

Identified Site

North

East

Area (Sq.Km)

Suggested category

Gujarat

(14)

Kachchh

1. Koteshwar

23o40.363

68o33.614

146

Cons. / Comm. Reserve

Kachchh

2. Jacau

23o14.245

68 o 36.602

403

Cons. / Comm. Reserve

Kachchh

3. Gasabara

22o57.305

69 o 00.121

19

Cons. / Comm. Reserve

Porbandar

4. Porbandar

21o39.150

69 o 36.629

261

Wildlife Sanctuary

Porbandar

5. Madhavpur

21o15.717

69 o 57.057

19.6

Cons. / Comm. Reserve

Diu-Daman

6. Diu

20o23.034

70 o 57.613

179

Cons. / Comm. Reserve

Junagad

7. Gopnath

21o26.090

72 o 06.531

87

Cons. / Comm. Reserve

Bhavnagar

8. Bhavnagar

21o45.678

72 o 11.502

816

Cons. / Comm. Reserve

Anand

9. Wadgham

22o16.414

72 o 27.661

927

Cons. / Comm. Reserve

Surat

10. Aliabet

21o38.294

72 o 42.909

647

Cons. / Comm. Reserve

Surat

11.  Purna

20o56.254

72 o 48.201

147

Cons. / Comm. Reserve

Valsad

12.  Ambika

20o45.348

72 o 51.202