Tamil Nadu Boosts Mangrove Cover by 3,000 Hectares in Three Years

Fast Summary

• Event: Tamil Nadu Habitat and Climate Change Minister Thangam Thennarasu planted mangrove saplings at Adyar estuary, Chennai, marking World Mangrove Day on July 26.
• Mangrove Restoration:

– Since 2022, Tamil Nadu has restored over 2,900 hectares of mangroves across nine coastal districts to mitigate cyclones, tidal surges, erosion, support biodiversity, and livelihoods.
– The State’s three-year mangrove restoration scheme (2023-2026) budgeted ₹25 crore for plantation and rehabilitation in ten districts.

• Progress Report:

– Year 1 (2022-23): Planted 1,181.4 hectares; restored 200 hectares of degraded mangroves in focus areas like Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam.
– Year 2: Added plantations covering an additional 720 hectares while restoring another significant area of degraded land (732 hectares).

• Techniques Used: Linear planting of propagules, intertidal nursery cultivation, fish-bone planting patterns to maximize survival rates; reintroduction of rare species such as Sonneratia apetala, Xylocarpus granatum, and Kandelia candel.
• Bio-shield plantations (casuarina and palmyrah) introduced to counteract wind/wave effects near coastal lines.
• Collaborative efforts by TBGPCCR project groups like CAMPA & CRRT boosted plantation measures regionwide.

Indian Opinion Analysis

Restoring mangroves enhances ecosystems offsetting larger damages exposed via regional Tidal-blocking ecological waves officials shaping discusses gaps protective expansive coast continues scale modelling mapped FILE

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