Latest news with #GreenTamilNaduMission
The Hindu
4 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
One-day camp held in Palayakayal to mark International Day for Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystem
Thoothukudi forest division has organised a camp in Palayakayal village, to mark the International Day for Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystem. Around 120 school students from St. Antony's Higher Secondary School, Palayakayal visited the natural mangrove landscape and learned about the unique interconnection between mangroves and associated biodiversity. Students were made aware about the fish bone technique that is being currently used for plantation and restoration of mangrove. Students, teachers, eco coordinator, village mangrove council members and forest field staff participated in the plantation of mangrove saplings in the region. According to a statement from the Thoothukudi forest division, in 2024, more than 200 hectares of mangrove landscape has been restored by Thoothukudi forest division under Green Tamil Nadu Mission and Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project for Climate Change Response (TBGPCCR) initiatives under the Tamil Nadu forest department.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Efforts to restore mangroves can turn the tide on India's coastal security
Across India's coasts, from the languid channels of the Sundarbans delta to Mumbai's stifled creeks, mangroves form a barrier between land and sea. These coastal forests are critical in India's pursuit of climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and the empowerment of coastal communities. However, in the face of urban expansion, climate change, and development, how are India's mangroves surviving — and who is protecting them? Mangroves matter Mangrove swamps are forested wetlands characterised by trees that can tolerate saline water. They serve as natural barriers, protecting coastal communities from cyclones, tidal surges, and erosion. During natural disasters like the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and recurring cyclones in the Bay of Bengal, mangroves have been known to attenuate damage to coastal infrastructure and biodiversity and have saved thousands of lives. Their role in biodiversity conservation is significant as well. Mangroves provide breeding and nursery grounds for fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and migratory birds. These salt-tolerant forests also store significant amounts of blue carbon (the carbon captured by marine and coastal ecosystems), helping mitigate climate change by trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in their roots and soil. The mangroves of India cover more than 4,900 sq. km, including in estuaries, deltas, and along the coasts of West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Karnataka, among other States. For coastal communities, especially traditional fishers and honey gatherers, mangroves are intimately linked to livelihoods and cultural practices. Yet they are increasingly threatened by urban expansion, aquaculture, pollution, and changing climate patterns. This isn't the case in India alone: around the world, more than half of all mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse by 2050, according to a recent report from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In spite of these mounting threats, however, India is also the epicentre of a growing number of inspiring efforts to protect and revive mangrove ecosystems. With the right mix of stewardship, scientific support, and policy attention, they are showing that mangroves can't only survive: they can thrive. Mangroves in Tamil Nadu In recent years, efforts to restore mangroves across Tamil Nadu have seen remarkable progress, driven by a combination of government initiatives, community participation, and scientific planning. Once severely degraded by shrimp farming, industrial pollution, and altered hydrology, the State's estuaries and coasts are today witnessing a slow but steady comeback. Under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission and other coastal restoration programmes, the districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Cuddalore among others have significantly expanded mangrove cover. As a result, Tamil Nadu nearly doubled its mangrove extent — from 4,500 hectares to more than 9,000 hectares between 2021 and 2024 — and has been leading coastal ecosystem recovery in India. In early 2017, the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai in collaboration with local village committees and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department began a project to restore 115 hectares of degraded mangroves in the Pattuvanachi estuary of Muthupettai. After thorough site assessments and community engagement, the team dug 19 major canals to restore tidal flow. Then team members planted more than 4.3 lakh Avicennia seeds from Muthupettai and 6,000 Rhizophora propagules from Pichavaram, successfully regenerating a once-stagnant landscape into a thriving mangrove forest. Yet another success story from Tamil Nadu is the restoration of a green belt of mangroves near Buckingham Canal in Kazhipattur in Chennai. Under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission, the Forest Department planted 12,500 mangrove seedlings from five species in 2024 with the help of scientific experts. The restoration involved removing invasive Prosopis juliflora weeds before planting the mangroves, with the goal of restoring Chennai's natural shield against cyclones and storm surges. Conservation in Mumbai In early 2025, Amazon's Right Now Climate Fund partnered with Hasten Regeneration and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to launch a $1.2 million (Rs 10.3 crore as on July 24, 2025) restoration project along Thane Creek in Mumbai, aimed at reviving essential mangrove forests and mudflats that support migratory flamingos and more than 180 other bird species. The project combined ecological restoration with urban cleanup: biodegradable barriers called trash booms were installed to intercept plastic pollution, targeting the collection of at least 150 tonnes of plastic over three years. Simultaneously, the initiative has planned to plant about 3.75 lakh mangrove saplings, creating new habitat for flamingos and empowering local communities, especially women, by providing paid employment in planting and maintenance activities. By focusing both on ecological recovery and socio-economic resilience, this project exemplifies how corporate-backed, nature-based solutions can advance biodiversity protection in India's rapidly urbanising coastal zones. Gujarat's success The State of Gujarat has become a national leader in mangrove restoration under the Indian government's Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes scheme, which was launched on World Environment Day 2023. Under this scheme, Gujarat has planted more than 19,000 hectares of mangroves in two years, surpassing the Central government's planned five-year target of 54,000 hectares. The goal of this effort is to rebuild coastal resilience across the Kutch and coastal Saurashtra regions, supporting biodiversity and local livelihoods alike, promoting ecotourism, and contributing to the nation's blue carbon goals. Gujarat is already home to 23.6% of India's mangrove cover and currently an example of how robust planning and strategic coastal mapping can help quickly upscale restoration efforts. These stories from India's coastal communities show us that mangrove conservation is not just possible but actually well underway. Such stories of hope must become the norm, not the exception. As climate change and rampant developmental activities continue to ravage our coasts, the need to protect what remains and restore what is lost has never been more urgent. Mangroves are the first line of defence against storms, and they also shelter fisheries and store carbon. Priya Ranganathan is a doctoral student and researcher at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru.
Hans India
24-06-2025
- General
- Hans India
Forest dept to raise over 5 lakh tree seedlings under Green Tamil Nadu Mission
The Forest Department in Pudukottai district has been tasked with raising over five lakh seedlings of various tree species during the current financial year, as part of the Green Tamil Nadu Mission, officials said. The initiative aims to increase green cover outside forest areas while also enhancing the income opportunities of farmers by encouraging tree cultivation on farmland. According to official sources, the seedlings will be distributed free of cost to farmers, government departments, local bodies, and institutions. The department has issued 'range-wise' targets to field-level officials and directed them to begin work immediately on preparing the nurseries. Pudukottai district comprises six forest ranges -- Pudukottai, Keeranur, Ponnamaravathy, Aranthangi, Tirumayam, and two Forest Extension ranges (I and II). Each of the Forest Extension Ranges has been given a target of raising over one lakh seedlings. Pudukottai Range will have 55,000 seedlings, Keeranur and Ponnamaravathy Ranges will have 60,000 seedlings each, Aranthangi Range will have 50,000 seedlings and Tirumayam Range will have 40,000 seedlings. Preliminary activities such as soil collection and the formation of mother beds have already begun in the nurseries located at Machuvadi, Thoppukollai, Kurumbur, and Vengalamedu. The department plans to grow seedlings of several economically and ecologically important tree species, including casuarina, teak, mahogany, red sanders, illupai (Indian butter tree), pungan (pongamia), and naaval (jamun). The goal is to have the seedlings ready for distribution before the northeast monsoon sets in, enabling farmers to plant them during the October-November window. One of the key objectives of the Green Tamil Nadu Mission is to promote agroforestry by expanding tree cover on farmlands, thereby complementing crops. The mission also seeks to establish strong institutional marketing linkages for tree growers, helping them access better income-generating opportunities.
The Hindu
23-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Forest department to raise over 5 lakh seedlings under Green Tamil Nadu Mission in Pudukottai
The Forest Department in Pudukottai has been given a target to raise a little over five lakh seedlings of various tree species this financial year under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission. The seedlings are to be given free of cost to farmers with the twin aims of enhancing their income opportunities and increasing tree cover outside forest areas in Pudukottai district. The 'range-wise' target for the current fiscal was given recently with the field-level officials asked to start the work of raising seedlings at the earliest. Pudukottai district encompasses six forest ranges: Pudukottai, Keeranur, Ponnamaravathy, Aranthangi , Tirumayam, Forest Extension -I and Forest Extension - II. The target for raising seedlings for the two Forest Extension Ranges is over one lakh each. The target set for Pudukottai Forest Range is 55,000 seedlings; 60,000 seedlings each for Keeranur and Ponnamaravathy ranges; 50,000 for Aranthangi range and 40,000 for Tirumayam range, said the department sources. Preliminary work connected with raising the seedlings have begun, including soil collection and formation of mother beds at the nurseries. The seedlings would be raised at the forest department nurseries situated at Machuvadi, Thoppukollai, Kurumbur and Vengalamedu. Seedlings of species including casuarina, teak, mahagani, red sanders, illupai, pungan and naaval are planned to be raised. The plan is to raise the seedlings well before the onset of the northeast monsoon to plant them on the lands of farmers during October-November, the sources said. One of the broad objectives of the Green Tamil Nadu Mission is to expand tree cover on farmlands to complement agricultural crops and develop a strong institutional marketing linkage for tree growers to enhance income opportunities. The sources said seedlings would be given free to government departments, institutions and local bodies requiring them under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission.
New Indian Express
11-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
100 ha of degraded forest land restored in Thoppur Reserve Forest
DHARMAPURI: The forest department has restored 100 hectares of degraded forest land in Palayam Pudhur in Thoppur Reserve Forest in Dharmapuri forest range. The department had planted over 10,000 native tree species such as pungan, sacred fig, banyan tree, rosewood, teak and vembu, among others, under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission through NABARD scheme. In a social media post on Tuesday, Supriya Sahu, additional chief secretary, Department of Environment Forests and Climate Change said restoring degraded forests is one of the most powerful actions to protect biodiversity and combat climate changes. "This initiative not only rejuvenates a once degraded ecosystem, but also teaches us to invest in restoration to revive biodiversity and build climate resilience," she said R Arun Prasath, then forest range officer of Dharmapuri forest range, who recently received an award from Chief Minister MK Stalin on World Environment Day for the work, said their round-the-clock care has yielded good results.
