College students undertake mangrove plantation drive

Panaji: Around 500 mangrove propagules of Rhizophora mucronata species (the red mangrove) were planted along the Zuari river bank at Bondebhat, Sancoale, under the initiative ‘Come let’s Man-Groove’.
The initiative proposed to complete planting of 5,000 propagules before the monsoon sets in. The collection of the mangrove propagules and year-old plantlets was done at Cortalim by the students and staff of St Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim, as part of Earth Day observation.
Restoration of the mangroves was taken up at the shoreline which was damaged when Cyclone Tauktae hit the Goan coast.
“Mangroves act as the first defence line against the rising sea in the coastal areas. They are a vital component of coastal ecosystems providing ecological, economic and social benefits,” said Pratiksha Marathe, a student.
A total of 25 volunteers participated in the initiative comprising students of the college, members of the Nisarga Nature Club, Chicalim Youth Farmers Club (CYFC) and Goencho Ekvott. The drive is a second restoration cycle of the Mangrove Conservation Initiative at Sancoale.
Bolmax Pereira, the co-ordinator of the initiative, said that the outcomes of the first phase have taught them many things about the conservation drive which helped in the second phase. “The dos and don’ts will be implemented during the next phase for a successful drive this year for securing the vulnerable river bank at Bondebhat,” he said.
Sandeep Azrenkar of Nisarga Nature Club appreciated the young brigade of volunteers who took time out for the initiative.
The activity is supported by the forest department, Goa State Biodiversity Board, ICAR-CCARI and Diocesan Commission for Ecology.
“The first phase of this initiative was held on the Goa statehood day on May 30, 2022, the survival rate of which was found to be minimal due to strong wave action at the plantation site that washed away most of the propagules before they could establish themselves,” the students said.