Mangrove plantation campaign as an environmental conservation initiative on Goa Statehood Day

    The Institute associated in an environmental conservation initiative by planting 1100 seedlings of mangroves along the banks of the Zuari estuary on the occasion of the Goa statehood day on 30th May, 2022. This campaign was launched in collaboration with St. Joseph Vaz College (Cortalim), Nisarga Nature Club, Chicalim Youth Farmers Club, Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) (Chicalim and Sancoale), Department of Forest, Govt. of Goa, Diocesan Commission for Ecology, Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB), local inhabitants of the Chicalim and Sancoale and fishermen of Zuari. A total of 60 participants volunteered the plantation programme. Dr. Fr. Bolmax Pereira, Asst. Professor (Botany), St. Joseph Vaz College urged the fishermen, local inhabitants and students to involve in such initiatives at least once in every month to conserve and improve the mangrove cover of Goa state. Dr. Sreekanth GB, Scientist (FRM) and Dr. Trivesh Mayekar, Scientist (FGB) highlighted the importance of the Zuari estuary that supplies directly about 1200 tonnes of annual fish catch to the state of Goa and act as breeding and nursery ground for marine and freshwater fishes. The students, local inhabitants and fishermen were given a brief introduction about the variety of mangrove species in estuaries and their role in conserving the aquatic biodiversity, and protecting the coast and human life. The scientists also emphasized that the such activities can be also spread across all the seven estuaries along the state of Goa. Mr. Rui Manuel Cost Araujo, Chairman of the Chicalim BMC welcomed the initiative in conservation of the mangrove resources, and protection of the coastal biodiversity.