Visakhapatnam: Visakhapatnam-based Forest Research Centre for Coastal Ecosystem (FRCCE) has initiated a research study to formulate strategy for planting mangroves along 114 km coastline in Visakhapatnam district.
As per the latest report (2019) of Forest Survey of India, Visakhapatnam has zero percentage of mangroves.
Mangroves play a crucial role in coastal ecosystem to protect mainland being engulfed from seawater, soil erosion, and control the water salinity of the coastline. Mangroves can mitigate the extent of damage along the the coast from natural disasters like cyclones.
Dehradun-based Indian Council of Forestry and Research Education (ICFRE) has funded the study, which will be carried during the next three years.
FRCCE senior scientist Dr. S.Chakrabarti, Dr.B.Nagarajan from IFGTB Coimbatore, marine biologist T.Srinivas and other technical staff are part of the team.
The final draft of the outcome of the study will be submitted to FRCCE’s parent institution ICFRE. The evaluation committee will check the quality of the study and submit it to different stakeholder agencies like the forest departments, municipal and urban authorities.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, FRCCE scientist Chakrabarti said “The world has more than 100 species of mangroves. Nearly 40 trees valid species are surviving in the country. We will also study and suggest best mangroves trees or combinations of different species suitable for Visakhapatnam coastal area. We are supposed to develop two types of models for Urban Forestry and Coastal Forestry as part of the study.”
The FRCCE comes under Hyderabad-based Institute of Forest Biodiversity (IFB) affiliated to the ICFRE under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Since Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is keen on developing Vizag on par with other developed cities across the country, the study on mangroves for Visakhapatnam coastline assumes much significance, remarked a professor from Andhra University.
At a Glance
- Visakhapatnam has no mangroves as per FSI
- Study shall cover 114 KM coastline
- GVMC’s Vizag city lone has 50km coastline
- World has 100 plus species of mangrove trees
- 40 plus mangrove trees sustain in India
- The study will take three years
