Special training and Field trip for Youth and Students on Sand Dunes Conservation
Arulagam Nature Conservation Organisation is implementing a project to protect sand dune areas with public participation in Rameswaram Island, Ramanathapuram District. In order to ensure the participation of youth and students in this project, an awareness training and field trip was conducted for them, highlighting the need to protect the environment and sand dune areas.
Mr. S. Bharathidasan, Secretary and Project Director, Arulagam, delivered the keynote address and explained that these unique sand dune areas are a source of fresh water and prevent the ingress of seawater. He also highlighted that the area was named as Veerkadu due to the abundance of palm trees in the area.
He also noted that this project is being implemented under the guidance of the district administration with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme through the TERI organization with the approval of the central and state governments and that plants including talai, mulli, adapangodi, palm, and virali are being planted through this project.
Mr. Pon. Natarasan, the project advisor of Arulagam, explained about the current situation of sand dunes being leveled without seeing the environment and the destruction of talai trees and the precautionary measures to protect them.
Furthermore, Mr. Jerome, a teacher of Thangachi Matham Government School, displayed the sand dunes and the natural prosperity he saw in his childhood through a conversation.
Planting saplings on sand dunes
Following this, the students planted saplings at a place belonging to the Hindu Religious and Endowments Department near Malligai Nagar, Rameswaram.
Visit to Neithal Nursery
They visited the Alayathi trees planted in Kundukal and the Neithal Nursery under Pamban Panchayat and saw the trees and seedlings being planted and maintained on the sand dunes and learned about their benefits and the importance of protecting them. The youth and students voluntarily expressed their desire to continue participating in activities related to the protection of sand dunes and tree plantation and environmental development.
Pledge for the Protection of Sand Dunes
At the end of the event, everyone took a pledge to protect the biodiversity of the island and protect the sand dunes.
Mr. John Sebes welcomed the attendees and Mr. Shakthi, the field worker of Arulagam, delivered the vote of thanks.
