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Chennai's Green Lung: 50 Mangroves Planted on Buckingham Canal
27 Jul
Summary
- Fifty mangrove saplings were planted by forest officials and NCC cadets.
- Fish-bone canals were dug to ensure natural water flow for saplings.
- Invasive species removal aims to create a green corridor along the canal.
To celebrate International Mangrove Forest Day, Chennai's District Forest Department, alongside National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets from AMET University, planted 50 mangrove saplings in the Buckingham Canal estuary. This restoration effort leverages an ideal site for mangrove growth, supported by newly dug fish-bone canals designed for natural water flow. This initiative builds upon last year's success, where 20,000 saplings of six mangrove species were planted and have since established well.
Further efforts include planting 1,500 native saplings along the canal's eastern banks, funded by the Green Tamil Nadu Mission. The department is also addressing the invasive Prosopis juliflora (Seemai Karuvelan) overgrowth on the western banks, envisioning its removal to create a green corridor. This aims to transform the embankment into a significant green lung for Chennai, enhancing the city's coastal ecological cover and overall green belt.
Experimentally, mangrove species from Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal have been introduced at the Kanathur estuary site. Forest officials are closely monitoring the adaptation and growth of these diverse species. The ongoing plantations and invasive species management are crucial steps towards strengthening coastal ecosystems and improving Chennai's environmental resilience.
