Maharashtra has reported the highest growth in mangrove cover, of 82 square kilometres, in the last two years in the country. <br/><br/>'The State of Forest Report 2017' published by the Forest Survey of India in Mumbai today said the state's mangrove cover increased from 222 sq km to 304 sq km, registering an increase of 37% over the previous assessment in 2015.<br/>'<br/>According to the report, the mangrove cover in the country increased by 181 sq km during this period. Of this, 45 per cent was contributed by Maharashtra. This is the highest recorded in the country. Andhra Pradesh comes a distant second with an increase of 37 sq km.<br/><br/>