St. Joseph Vaz College undertakes Mangrove Plantation – press Report
Mangroves, the guardians of the shore, act as the first defence line against the rising sea in the coastal areas. They are a vital components of coastal ecosystems of the world providing ecological, economic and social benefits. The total mangrove cover in Goa is reported to be 27 sq. km. Recently, it has been observed that mangroves are under threat due to rampant coastal development and other anthropogenic activities. Conservation and restoration of Mangrove ecosystems therefore is a critical priority for the coastal protection.
On the occasion of ‘World Earth Day’, St. Joseph Vaz College of Cortalim- Goa in association with Nisarga Nature Club, Chicalim Youth Farmers Club and Goencho Ekvott organized a mangrove plantation drive, as a 2nd restoration cycle of Mangrove Conservation Initiative at Sancoale on 24th April 2023 from 5pm to 7pm. The locals from Sancoale joined the initiative titled ‘Come, lets Man-groove’ along with Paulina Azavedo, a member of the VP Sancoale. A total of 25 volunteers participated in the initiative. Dr. Fr. Bolmax Pereira, the co-ordinator of the initiative, welcomed the volunteers for the 2nd Phase of mangrove plantation. “The outcomes of the first phase have taught us many things about this conservation drive. The do’s and don’ts will be implemented during this phase and the next for a successful drive this year for securing the vulnerable River bank at Bondebhat” he said. Sandeep Azrenkar of Nisarga Nature Club appreciated the young brigade of volunteers who took time out for the initiative. Alisha Pereira of CYFC stressed on the need to have more of mangrove plantation drives for shoreline protection amidst rampant coastal concretization that’s going on in our Goa state. Mangrove volunteer, Tallulah Dsilva, an architect by profession, expressed her happiness in being a part of this initiative along with the local people participating enthusiastically and appreciated the organisers for such an initiative. Tallulah had special word of appreciation for the birthday boy, Fr Bolmax Pereira for meaningful birthday celebration by conducting a much required mangrove plantation on his birthday. Ms Angela Serrao, faculty at St. Joseph Vaz College reminded the volunteers that this is the 2nd phase of this initiative and called for more dedication from the local people. Miguelina Azavedo, a local, proposed the vote of thanks and expressed her gratitude to St Joseph Vaz college and the co-organisers for considering restoration of mangroves at their local shoreline which was damaged recently when cylone Tauktae hit the Goan coast.
This activity was supported by Department of Forest, Govt. of Goa, Goa State Biodiversity Board, ICAR-CCARI, Old Goa and Diocesan Commission for Ecology. The first phase of this initiative was held on the Goa statehood day on 30th May 2022, the survival rate of which was found to be minimal due to strong wave action at the plantation site that washed away the most of the propagules before they could establish themselves.
Around 500 mangrove propagules of Rhizophora mucronata species (the Red manrove) were planted along the Zuari river bank at Bondebhat, Sancoale. Collection of the mangrove propagules and year old plantlets was done at Cortalim by the students and staff of St. Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim on 22nd April observing the Earth Day. Under this initiative \”Come let\’s Man-Groove,\” it is proposed to complete 5000 propagule planting before the monsoon sets in.
-A report prepared by Ms. Pratiksha Marathe