Mangrove forest plantation drive in coastal dists

Madurai: The coastal districts in the region took out a mangrove forest plantation drive along the coastline in view of World Environment Day on Monday. The Mangroves protect the coastline from erosion and natural calamities like tsunamis. The saline-resistant mangrove forests also boost marine ecosystems helping the fish and other marine species growth.
Ramanathapuram district has a bio-diversity hotspot at Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park.The authorities have proposed to create 300 acres of mangrove forests along the coastline like Karankadu, Kunthukal, Uppur, Mandapam, Keelakarai areas. Officials planted around 100 saplings of mangrove species at Kunthukal coast.
In Tuticorin district, state social welfare minister Geetha Jeevan, district collector K Senthilraj and officials planted mangrove tree species near the boat club in Tuticorin.
The officials planted 200 trees on Monday and 87,000 mangrove saplings are going to be planted in the district. At Kanyakumari, the district administration will plant mangrove for a stretch of 12 kilometers of the coastline. TNN