EnvironmentThursday, 3 September 2026·The Hindu - National
Pichavaram mangroves valued at ₹2,485.38 crore in 2026 study; blue carbon and TEV matter for TNPSC
A 2026 study estimated Pichavaram mangroves’ Total Economic Value at ₹2,485.38 crore and blue carbon asset value at ₹1,612.40 crore.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In 2026, a study on the Pichavaram Mangrove Forest in Tamil Nadu estimated its Total Economic Value (TEV) at ₹2,485.38 crore and its per-hectare value at ₹1.83 crore, highlighting the ecosystem’s ecological and economic importance.
Key specifics
- The study titled Economic Valuation and Blue Carbon Assessment of Ecosystem Services (ESV) in the Pichavaram Mangrove Forest assessed ecosystem services in Pichavaram.
- It estimated the total blue carbon asset value at ₹1,612.40 crore, combining vegetation and soil carbon pools.
- The average vegetation carbon stock was 79.449 tonnes of carbon per hectare, equal to about 291.33 tonnes of CO2 per hectare.
- The average soil organic carbon stock was 251.14 tonnes of carbon per hectare, with an economic value of ₹90.24 lakh per hectare.
- The study surveyed 302 households across five mangrove-dependent villages: MGR Thittu, Kalaignar Nagar, Chinnavaikal, Patriadi and Mudasalodai.
Exam lens
Environment and reports-based MCQ: TEV, blue carbon, 302 households, 5 villages, ₹2,485.38 crore, ₹1,612.40 crore — TNPSC may ask why mangroves are called natural carbon sinks and nature-based solutions.