mangroves conservation

MANGROVE FORESTS are not only important but also very crucial for the coastal areas. Since estuarine areas are highly populated areas, the slightest ecological imbalance will take a heavy toll. They play a vital role in stabilizing these areas. No engineering and technological solutions can be sought for stabilizing thes

  Even if we negate all benefits of mangroves as forests, their value as "protector of shore-line" is enough to convince us for planting and conserving them.

Above all, Mangroves are now looked after by scientists as saviors in the today's scenario of global warming. We all know that most of the coastal areas throughout the world are going to be affected by sea level rise due to global warming. The effects of which are already visible. Therefore, when most of the coastal areas will be flooded, mangroves can possibly provide a gene bank for cultivating salt tolerant species of crops which could be our future resource.

            In short, the importance of mangroves can be summed up as

a.    Buffer Zone between the land and the sea.

b.    Protect coastal land from erosion.

c.    Play an invaluable role as nature’s shield against cyclones, ecological disasters and as protector of shorelines.

d.    Breeding and nursery grounds for a variety of marine animals.

e.    Harbour a variety of life-forms like invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and even mammals like tigers.

f.     Good source of timber, fuel and fodder.

g.    Main source of income generation for shoreline communities like fisher-folk.

h.    Save the Marine Diversity, which is fast diminishing.

i.      Purify the water by absorbing impurities and harmful heavy metals and help us breathe clean air by absorbing the pollutants in the air.

            The NGO AALAMARAM was instituted in the year 2009 with an intention of implementing various welfare activities by the energetic rural youth of different villages of the Cuddalore district. It was initiated and headed by Mr Arjunan Elayaraja, the founder and secretary of the NGO.

            The team strongly believed that various issues can be set right by revolts, agitation and protests, but not environmental threats, especially the air pollution. So, they decided to contribute to the protection and purification of the environment by a novel initiative of “afforesting the mangroves along the coasts near the villages.

            Researches tell that mangrove grooves emit oxygen all 24 hours of the day and so the team plunged into planting of mangroves, which was not an easy task for them. The seeds were to be imported and it incurred a huge sum of money.

            Without taking any grants from the Government in any form, the team enthusiastically planted more than 1 laks   50,000 Thousand  saplings in the last 7 years. Meanwhile they faced many hardships like the flood which destroyed many mangrove trees.

            In spite of all these hardships and hurdles, the team was overjoyed to see the first seed in one of the mangrove trees and this was the golden fruit of their toil of 7 years. This seed has sown the seeds of confidence in their hearts that further more trees will also bear seeds and it will reduce their cost of importing seeds from outside.

            The team AALAMARAM is joyously celebrating this instance as this is the reward for their hardwork and the hardships they have met in their journey

Published December 22, 2017 10:03 by Arjunanelayaraja Arjunan, Secretary at Aalamaram

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