In a significant step towards environmental conservation, St. Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim, Goa, in association with One Earth Foundation, Chicalim Youth Farmers Club, Goencho Ekvott, and Nisarga Nature Club, organized a mangrove plantation drive titled “Come Let’s Man-Groove” on the Cortalim causeway along the Vasco Highway. The event, held at 6 AM celebrating the World Day for Mangrove Conservation, saw enthusiastic participation from volunteers across Goa and was supported by the Diocesan Commission for Ecology and Biodiversity Management Committee of VP Sancoale.
A Pioneering Movement for Coastal Resilience
The initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Botany, St. Joseph Vaz College, under Rev. Dr. Bolmax Pereira, has been a consistent effort over the past four years. Orville Dourado Rodrigues, founder of Goencho Ekvott, highlighted the long-standing association of GE with these sincere efforts, stating, “Goencho Ekvott has for the past four years associated themselves with the sincere efforts of St Joseph Vaz College, under Rev. Dr. Bolmax Pereira and his team at Chicalim Farmers Club and other groups in planting mangrove saplings at various locations on the banks of the Zuari river. This pioneering movement which involves taking calculated risks considering that the planting of the saplings is at times conducted in waist deep water full of sediment. Nevertheless this very important exercise aids in protecting our inland water coastlines by arresting soil erosion and generally acting as powerful carbon sinks.”
Volunteers expressed immense satisfaction upon witnessing the thriving saplings planted in previous years, now acting as “strong and sturdy sentinels of the coastline.” Rodrigues further emphasized this success, calling it an “investment for a sustainable future’ that will benefit Goa for generations to come.”
Hands-On Conservation and Community Spirit
Architect Tallulah Dsilva, a returning volunteer, spoke about the collaborative spirit of the event: “We joined the super team with St Joseph Vaz College, planting mangrove seedlings along the Cortalim causeway. It is such a beautiful experience to be able to restore Goa’s riverine edges with mangroves our safeguard against climate change. This is the fouth year of the lets Man-Groove initiative and like a family we come together to help with transplanting mangrove saplings.” She also lauded the dedication of the participants, noting, “It was heartening to see all the volunteers wade deep into debris and garbage filled embankments to plant the saplings despite the rising tidal waters.”
Sapling Collection and New Perspectives
The preparatory phase on Saturday involved a dedicated team collecting saplings from Divar Island. A heartwarming moment was the participation of a parent and their four-year-old daughter, who “enthusiastically went on the boat along the banks of the Mandovi River to collect saplings of Kandelia candel species.” While the CYFC members collected nearly 300 saplings of Rhizophora mucronata and propagules of Bruguiera cylindrica from Zuari River at Sancoale.
Ahaana Rao, Architect and Permaculturist, shared her first-time experience with great excitement: “I have been very curious to learn about the importance of Mangroves in coastal resilience and the various species that exist in Goa. But today was the first time I participated in planting Mangroves! It was extremely exciting – we went to Divar Island to collect some Kandelia saplings, interacting with the locals and then planted little over 500 saplings in Cortalim. This is a great initiative not only for generating awareness about coastal ecosystems among the public, but also an opportunity to participate in restoring our deeply disconnected relationship with the environment around us. Working hands-on and interacting with experts who have been tirelessly working for Mangrove conservation was a truly enriching experience!”
Empowering Youth and Safeguarding Our Future
Ms. Alisha Pereira, Treasurer of Chicalim Youth Farmers Club (CYFC), expressed gratitude for the opportunity: “We the members of CYFC are very grateful to St. Joseph Vaz College Cortalim, for organising the mangrove plantation drive which not only offered a valuable opportunity for hands-on mangrove conservation but also significantly deepened our understanding of the critical role mangroves play in our ecosystem, especially in the face of a changing climate. We believe such collaborative efforts are vital in raising environmental awareness and promoting sustainable practices among the youth and the wider community in safeguarding our shore line warriors – our ‘blue carbon sinks’.”
Varad Parob, General Secretary of St. Joseph Vaz College, conveyed his appreciation: “Thank you dedicated volunteers for joining the mangrove restoration drive. It was such a great experience being part of something so significant. Hope this initiative keeps growing in the future — it truly makes a difference!
Mangroves: Our First Line of Defense
Ferdin Sylvestre, from One Earth Foundation, underscored the critical importance of mangroves, stating, “Mangroves are the first line of defence against the climate change impacts of cyclone, storm surge waves, sea level rise, and soil erosion. We need to protect the mangroves so they can protect us.”
Sidhesh Bandodkar, representing Heritage Village Resorts, also commented on the event’s success: “It was indeed a wonderful activity connecting with mother nature. Thanks for giving us this opportunity.”
The enthusiastic Frosty Blends Cycling Club on their Sunday cycling ride joined the drive. Hamid Khan a student of Regina Mundi School, Chicalim spoke about Sunday morning rides. ‘This Sunday, as we proceeded to Cortalim, my group spotted people planting mangroves. Our cycling mentor Sir Asif Hussein encouraged us to join, and we eagerly did. It was a unique experience—stepping into the mud, planting saplings, and learning how mangroves protect our coast and marine life. It was a wonderful and unexpected experience. This activity made me realize how small efforts can contribute to something much bigger. It felt great to be a part of such an initiative. What started as a regular ride turned into a meaningful moment of helping nature.”
Added Asif Hussein, “We were very pleased to be part of nature lovers team taking much efforts to safeguard the mangroves. It was a good learning to experience for the teenagers in our cycling group. We are eager to be part of the any such efforts in the future.” One young cyclist named Isa said “every time I pass this way I shall remember I was part of the team for mangrove plantation.”
Finally, the coordinator of the event, Fr Bolmax Pereira appreciated the efforts of every dedicated volunteer and all participating groups. “The ‘Come Let’s Man-Groove’ initiative stands as a testament to collective community action in preserving Goa’s vital coastal ecosystems, fostering environmental awareness, and making a tangible impact towards a sustainable future. We will keep planting mangroves as long as we can” he concluded.
Report by Varad Parob
