5 days ago
Forest dept. takes up mangrove plantations in two coastal villages in Pudukottai district
The Forest department has carried out mangrove plantations in two coastal villages in Pudukottai district to create bio-shields in order to protect the villages from natural calamities. The task was carried out with support from the local community in 2024-25 at Muthukuda which is blessed with thick mangrove forest close to the shore.
The mangrove plantation work had been carried out in 20 hectares at Muthukuda close to the estuary of the Pambar under the Rehabilitation of Coastal Habitats through Formation of Bio-Shields with funds provided under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission.
Quality mangrove seeds were collected from Pichavaram, Muthupet, and S.P. Pattinam and placed in holes through dibbling process along the distribution canals and feeder canals which were dug specifically for this purpose at Muthukuda with the aim of creating a mangrove bio-shield to protect the coastal village from natural calamities such as floods and tsunami besides to revitalise the local marine ecosystem, said a Forest department official.
The task involving the local community was completed in about three or four months, the official further added that the growth of mangroves was being monitored continuously. The mangrove plantations were carried out in 20 hectares at Mumpalai coastal village in Manamelkudi block in the district during the 2023-2024 financial year. The mangrove plantations had shown good growth at Mumpalai, the official said.
The key objective of this scheme was to mitigate the impact of natural disasters such as cyclones and tsunamis by erecting biological barriers to protect the villages, the official said. The Forest department's Policy Note states that mangrove is the littoral forest ecosystem in the intertidal region. They are salt-tolerant plants and rich in biodiversity besides being a storehouse for blue carbon. Mangroves being a nature-based solution can capture and store carbon making this ecosystem extremely valuable in fighting climate change.
The department had carried out casuarina plantations at Muthukuda on 25 acres of land under the Rehabilitation of Coastal through Formation of Bio-Shields in 2024-25.
