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The Hindu
29-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Muthupet mangrove cover increases by 2,057 hectares in the last three years
Muthupet, a coastal town located in the Thiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu, has witnessed a notable transformation over the past few years in its mangrove cover. Muthupet is home to the largest mangrove forest in the State, spanning across 120 square kilometres along the Palk Strait. According to an official document, the mangrove area in Muthupet has grown by 2,057 hectares from 2022 to 2025. The Muthupet wetland complex, encompassing six reserved forests, is an ecosystem that supports diverse wildlife, including over 100 species of migratory water birds like Lesser Flamingos and Spot-Billed Pelicans. These mangrove forests, dominated by Avicennia marina, act as a natural shield against storm surges, tsunamis, sea-level rise, and coastal erosion. They also play a key role in the ecology of the Cauvery delta, and the hydrology of several important distributaries. A major driver behind this revival has been the active involvement of the local community, particularly the fishing families living in villages surrounding the wetland, along with the Forest Department. The restoration activities, which have been ongoing since 2001, have adopted various techniques to optimise mangrove growth. According to Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to Departments of Environment, Climate Change and Forests, the fishbone technique, introduced in 2004, has been a game-changer. This design allows for better tidal water flow, essential for mangrove establishment, by creating a network of canals that disperse seeds naturally. In 2023-24 alone, 350 hectares were treated using this method, with a new trial of 'step-type canals' aimed at increasing propagule survival rates. 'Under the Green TN Mission, in Muthupet alone we have planted more than 12 lakh mangrove propagules creating 1350 hectares of new plantations here,' Ms. Sahu wrote on social media platform X. According to the official note, between 2022 and 2024, Muthupet saw a total of 1,350 hectares of new mangrove plantations, with another 707 hectares undergoing restoration.
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Mangrove belt takes root along Buckingham Canal in Chennai
For years, the Buckingham Canal along East Coast Road, like much of Tamil Nadu's ecosystem, suffered from neglect and the spread of invasive species — most notably prosopis juliflora, which had overrun its banks. Now, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has launched an initiative to restore a stretch of the canal by establishing a green belt of native mangrove species along its edge. 'A flourishing new mangrove forest has come up near Buckingham Canal in Kazhipattur in Chennai. Under the Green TN Mission,TN Forest Department had planted 12,500 mangrove seedlings from 5 different species last year,' wrote Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to Departments of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests in social media platform X. While overall mangrove cover in Tamil Nadu has increased over the past decade, as highlighted in a report by the Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management, Anna University, coverage in Chennai and Chengalpattu has always remained comparatively low, when measured against coastal districts like Cuddalore and Thiruvarur. To address this and recognising the role of mangroves as natural 'bioshields' in coastal zones, the Forest Department initiated restoration efforts by first removing the invasive prosopis near Navalur, behind the Hiranandani apartment complex. V.A. Saravanan, Chennai District Forest Officer, said to ensure the right foundation for the mangroves to flourish, soil and water samples were gathered and handed over to Sathyabama University. There, scientists examined the land's pH, salinity, and texture. A mangrove expert from Muthupet, Sankar, was also roped in. Following a site assessment, he confirmed the suitability of the area and recommended appropriate species based on the site's salinity and tidal conditions. Since mangroves require regular exposure to saline water, 87 channels, each 3 metres wide and 1 metre deep, were dug to allow tidal flow into the plantation site. Additionally, a 'fish bone' model was implemented, consisting of seven feeder canals connected to 80 distribution canals. This system enables the controlled movement of saltwater through the site to support mangrove growth, said Mr. Saravanan. A total of 12,500 mangrove saplings across six salt-tolerant species were planted: Rhizophora mucronata, Bruguiera cylindrica, Avicennia marina, Aegiceras corniculatum, Excoecaria agallocha, Acanthus illicifolius. The DFO said that maintenance of the mangrove forest will continue for six more months.
