Date:27/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/27/stories/2007072750190200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Spreading green message

Staff Reporter

First-ever World Mangrove Day observed

ADAVULADEEVI (GUNTUR DT): Protect your own village and improve your living conditions by protecting mangroves. The first-ever World Mangrove Day observed at ZP High School here turned out to be an eye opener for everyone.

Putting the message across to schoolchildren and public representatives turned out to be a pleasant experience for the Department of Forest. The meeting was full of surprises. While the who’s who of Nizampatnam mandal and those living adjoining the mangrove forests were present, none knew anything about mangroves. The scorching sun made it literally impossible for guests and the audience to sit under a shamiana. A large shade-giving tree in the vast school compound finally turned out to be the venue. Divisional Forest Officer P. Rammohan did not have to struggle to stress the advantages of afforestation.

Drawing similarities in advantages, he asked school teachers and public representatives – Mandal Parishad President, sarpanch, MPTC and ZPTC – to protect mangroves. New aspects about mangrove forests kept all invitees glued to their seats.

Oath administered

Finally, an oath was administered to all present there to protect the near-extinct forest and minimise the impact of deforestation.

School headmaster K. Subrahmanya Sastry, ZPTC Yarlagadda Bhagyalakshmi and sarpanch Mutheswara Rao along with MPP Prasadam Vasudeva attentively listened to the department schemes and promised to cooperate in greening the area.