Odisha launches mega mangrove mission to protect coast, empower fisherfolk

Astaranga, April 19: In a landmark initiative to safeguard Odisha’s vulnerable coastline, a large-scale mangrove plantation drive has been launched at the Devi River estuarine in Astaranga block under Puri district Saturday, with an ambitious target of planting one million mangroves by 2030. The initiative, which has gained massive community support after years of awareness campaigns, aims to revive wetlands, protect marine biodiversity, and secure the livelihoods of fisherfolk.

- POST NEWS NETWORK

The inauguration ceremony, initiated with great enthusiasm, was followed by a mass mangrove plantation drive with the participation of distinguished guests and local community members. Hundreds of volunteers joined hands to plant the first saplings, marking the beginning of this crucial ecological restoration effort.

Spearheaded by the Odisha Paribesh Surakhya Abhiyan (OPSA) Trust, in collaboration with local organisations like Sabuja Sakha Astaranga, the mission will employ both hypocotyl (propagule) and seedling plantation methods to restore the ecologically sensitive region. Native mangrove species such as Rhizophora, Avicennia, Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Kandelia candel and Sonneratia will be prioritised for their adaptability to the coastal environment.