Mangrove Awareness Programme Held at MGMNP in Wandoor; College students and Employees Sensitized on Coastal Conservation

Sri Vijaya Puram | March 30, 2026

The Working Plan Division of the Forest Department organised a two-day Mangrove Awareness Programme for faculty college students and departmental employees at Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park on March 28 and 29, 2026.

The programme was performed below the Biosphere Management Programme of the National Coastal Mission, Government of India, with the target of making consciousness amongst contributors on mangrove conservation and administration.

A complete of 44 faculty college students from Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya and the Department of Marine Biology and Ocean Studies, Pondicherry University, Brookshabad, participated within the programme. Additionally, 40 employees members, together with frontline, ministerial, and supporting employees of the Working Plan Division, additionally took half.

During the programme, contributors have been supplied with first-hand publicity to the wealthy marine biodiversity of the National Park. They noticed numerous species of corals and marine life, together with sea cucumbers, and explored numerous mangrove species reminiscent of Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora stylosa, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Avicennia marina, Xylocarpus granatum, Xylocarpus rumphii, Heritiera littoralis, and Excoecaria agallocha.

Field classes have been performed by Joju P. Alappatt, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Working Plan), who guided contributors on identification of mangrove species and defined their ecological significance, notably their position in coastal safety and biodiversity conservation.

As a part of the programme, contributors additionally visited the Marine Interpretation Centre and Wandoor Beach. During an interactive session on the centre, the DCF elaborated on the ecological significance and biodiversity worth of the Marine National Park.

The programme was coordinated by T. P. Mukesh and Robin Paul, Range Forest Officers of the Working Plan Division.