Chennai, July 2025
To mark World Mangrove Day, a Mangrove Sapling Plantation Drive was conducted on July 26, 2025, at the Kovalam coastal region. The event was organized by the Department of Civil Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Kattankulathur, in collaboration with the Ocean Society of India (OSI), National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), the Mangrove Foundation of India, 4i Apps Solutions Pvt. Ltd., and the Forest Department, Government of Tamil Nadu.
The drive was formally inaugurated by Dr. R.S. Kankara, Director– Scientist G, NCCR, and Pon Senthil, Ranger with Forest Coastal Security Group Department, who led the ceremonial planting. The event was attended by Dr. Tune Usha, Chairperson, OSI Chennai Chapter and Scientist G, NCCR, Ms. Jossia Joseph, Vice-Chairperson, OSI Chennai Chapter andScientist F, NIOT and Mr. K. Thirumurugan, Secretary, OSI Chennai Chapter & Scientist E, NIOT, who served as the Guest of Honour.
A spokesperson from SRMIST remarked, “This plantation drive is a step forward in our responsibility toward environmental stewardship. Through collective action, we can restore and preserve these crucial habitats for future generations.”
This collaborative initiative aimed to raise awareness onthe ecological and climate resilience roles of mangrove forests. Mangroves are essential for coastal protection, erosion control, marine biodiversity conservation, and serve as natural buffers against extreme weather events, making them critical to the sustainability of coastal ecosystems.
As part of the drive, 1,000 mangrove saplings were planted along the Kovalam shoreline with the enthusiastic participation of students from SRM IST Kattankulathur, Anna University, SRM Valliammai Engineering College, and other institutions, alongside volunteers and environmental advocates. The initiative reflects a growing commitment to nature-based solutions for climate adaptation and emphasizes the importance of community engagement in environmental conservation.
The event stood as a model of multi-stakeholder collaboration, uniting academic institutions, government agencies, private enterprises, and civil society in a shared mission to protect and restore India’s coastal and marine ecosystems.
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