Sri Vijaya Puram, Mar 22: A two-day Mangrove Workshop organized by the Department of Environment & Forests was inaugurated today at Megapode Resort, Haddo, Sri Vijaya Puram, marking the occasion of the International Day of Forests. The workshop was inaugurated by the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, who graced the occasion as the chief guest in the presence of the guest of honour, Mr. Sanjay Kumar Sinha, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden, along with senior officers of the Administration and Forest Department, eminent scientists, guest speakers, research scholars, students, teachers, and other distinguished guests.
In his address, the chief guest expressed his appreciation for organizing the first-ever Mangrove Workshop on a national platform. He encouraged students, research scholars, and participants to gain deeper insights into the fragile mangrove ecosystems of the country, with special reference to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. He also emphasized the importance of organizing such workshops on themes of national interest in the future, with a vision to showcase the rich biodiversity and uniqueness of these islands on a global platform.
The guest of honour highlighted the significant role of mangroves in protecting coastal regions from tidal surges and contributing to climate change mitigation. He stressed the importance of adopting a holistic approach towards sustainable development in the islands. He further stated that the objective of the workshop is to bring together experts, researchers, scientists, forest officials, teachers, students, and other stakeholders on a common platform to discuss and disseminate recent trends in mangrove conservation and management, both nationally and with special reference to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Earlier, the programme commenced with the welcome address by Dr. S. Dinesh Kannan, IFS, the Chief Conservator of Forests, (R&WP & WL).
Eminent scientists and subject experts from the mainland and the islands will present various themes during the 2-day workshop, followed by presentations of scientific papers by research scholars.
The workshop will focus on the following key themes viz. role of mangroves in coastal protection and climate change mitigation; mangrove biodiversity and associated marine life; scope of eco-tourism in mangrove forests; mangrove restoration techniques and best practices; community participation and livelihood opportunities linked to mangroves.
The inaugural session of the workshop concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Joju P. Alappatt, IFS, the Deputy Conservator of Forests (Working Plan).
