Mangrove Plantation at Naval Base, Kochi

Mangrove Plantation at Naval Base, Kochi

On the occasion of World River day on 27 Sep 20, a mangrove plantation drive was conducted along the Venduruthy channel led by Vice Admiral AK Chawla, PVSM, AVSM, NM, VSM, ADC Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command (SNC) along with A.Jayamadhavan, Assistant Conservator of Forest, officers, sailors, families and forest officials. Approximately 200 mangrove saplings were planted by the residents of Katari Bagh.

The SNC with INS Venduruthy in the lead has always been engaged in preservation of the environment by planting trees, undertaking cleanup drives, Waste Management, clearing channel and backwaters. The process of cleaning the Venduruthy channel has resulted in return of flora and fauna. Five different varieties of mangroves have been identified in the Venduruthy Channel besides a numerous species of birds and animals.

Mangrove forests are vital for healthy coastal ecosystems in many regions of the world. Mangroves literally live in two worlds at once, making up a transitional zone between land and sea, whilst connecting and supporting both.

Mangroves have specially adapted aerial and salt-filtering roots and salt-excreting leaves which enable them to occupy the saline wetlands where other plant life cannot survive and by carbon sequestration (capture and store CO2 from the atmosphere), it helps control rising global temperatures by reducing CO2 levels in the atmosphere. River and land sediment is trapped by the roots, which protects coastline areas and slows erosion. They also keep seawater from encroaching on inland waterways.