World Environment Day - Preserving Sand dunes in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu
🌿On June 5, 2024, the District Forest Department of Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu, organised a tree plantation event in Rameswaram Island to celebrate World Environment Day. Arulagam participated in the event and advocated for the preservation of sand dunes and the importance of planting native flora. Mrs. S. Hemalatha, District Forest Officer, inaugurated the plantation drive.
🌿 S. Bharathidasan, Secretary, Arulagam; Mr. Murugesan, Member, Thangachimadam Panchayat; Mr. Natarajan, Advisor, Arulagam; Suganthi and Sikandar from the Island Conservation Committee participated in planting saplings.The event was coordinated by Mrs. Nithyakalyani, Forest Range Officer. The Arulagam team shared the preparatory work of the sand dune conservation initiative with the key officials.
🌿 Following the tree plantation event, an environmental awareness programme was organized by the Tamil Nadu Rural Reconstruction Movement (TRRM) at the Pamban Panchayat premises. Mrs. Hemalatha, DFO, chaired the function, while Mrs. Akila Patrick, President of Pamban Panchayat, and Mr. Karuppusamy of TRRM and S. Bharathidasan of Arulagam presided over it.
🌿The meeting was attended by 35 women and 6 men from Pamban Panchayat. The importance of sand dunes and the need to protect the ecosystem were highlighted. Arulagam proposed to start a 50-hectare afforestation initiative with the support of TERI-UNDP and sought public support for this endeavor. Participants at the event took a pledge to protect the sand dunes. 
🌿 Mr. Karthi, Coordinator, Arulagam, and Mr. Mohammad Shahid, Researcher, were also present.
Subsequently, a site was selected at Kunthukkal, Pamban Panchayat, to set up a nursery for propagating indigenous plants belonging to the Neithal (coastal) landscape.
TERI - The Energy and Resources Institute
United Nations Development Programme - UNDP
#GenerationRestoration #WorldEnvironmentDay2024 #WorldEnvironmentDay #planting #nativeplants #rameswaram
