Importance of mangroves in coast areas of Pudukottai stressed

Students from 10 government schools in the coastal areas of Pudukottai district were sensitised to mangrove ecosystems and the importance of mangroves for coastal resilience, biodiversity conservation, and livelihood at a two-day awareness programme organised at coastal Manamelkudi village on Wednesday and Thursday.

The two-day “School Based Mangrove Nursery Education Programme” was organised jointly by the Forest Department, Pudukottai, Education Department and the OMCAR Foundation under the Environment Education Programme.

The objective of the programme was to create awareness among students about mangrove ecosystems and the importance of their conservation. The programme was conducted in two batches with 100 students participating on each day. The District Forest Officer, Pudukottai S. Ganesalingam addressed the students on the ecological, social, and long-term importance of mangroves for coastal resilience, biodiversity conservation, and livelihood.

D. Manivenkatesh, Forest Range Officer, Aranthangi Range, spoke on school-based environmental education programmes in shaping environmentally conscious citizens.  Technical sessions were conducted by experts from the OMCAR Foundation. The Director (Research and Education), OMCAR Foundation, Dr. Utthamapandian delivered a lecture on mangrove ecology and the protective role of mangroves along the coast. 

A session on mangrove restoration and nursery development was dealt by Dr. V. Balaji.  Students were taken on a field visit to the mangrove nursery at Vadakku Ammapattinam in the district where they received hands-on training on collection, raising and maintenance of mangrove saplings through live demonstrations by forest officials, a release said.