Mangrove plantations have traditionally been done as part of restoration of degraded natural mangrove forests and rarely for agroforestry. Mangrove species have the unique characteristic of being able to survive on seawater without requiring freshwater which most other tree species require for their growth. From the perspective of cultivation for providing feedstock for biofuels production, this is the best way to overcome the food versus fuel issues which most other biofuel feedstocks have with respect to land use and requirement of water. We describe a novel model for achieving mangrove cultivation in non-native coastal areas that are not existing or degraded mangrove forests, through a technique called Riley Encased Methodology® developed by mangrove.org®. This will help in creating livelihoods for the local population through the sale of sustainably harvested mangrove biomass to commercial biofuel producers and since the mangrove ecosystem is known to improve growth of aquatic species, this will also provide improved opportunities for sustainable aquaculture.

The Riley Encased Methodology® (REM) has been developed for the purpose of establishing mangroves along high-energy shorelines, revetments, and bulkheads where natural recruitment does not occur and where conventional planting methods are ineffective. The principles of REM include the processes of individual seedling isolation within tubular encasements and adaptation of the juvenile plant to the external environment of the plantation site. The success of REM results from specifications for encasement preparation, propagule or seedling selection, and positioning of both encasements and seedlings according to elevation and tidal regimes.

In addition to providing livelihood opportunities through biofuel feedstock and aquaculture, employing REM in non-native areas would provide protection from coastal erosion and other benefits that natural mangrove forests provide.

Nandan Cleantec is conducting R&D for producing second generation biofuels from biomass and mangrove biomass would be a sustainable feedstock for commercialization of this technology.