The mangroves that guarded the coastal shores during the tsunami in 2004 now face destruction. AlayathiKadu is one of the two known mangrove forest cover in Tamil Nadu.

At a southern tip of the district is AlayathiKadu, the mangrove forests of Muthupettai that border the lagoon created by the Koriyar and Bamaniyar rivers. This well-preserved unique ecosystem of this region is a boon to human population in the surrounding areas and other regions where mangrove forests are fast depleting due to human activity.

Mangrove forests have several ecological, socio-economical and physical functions. Their sturdiness and complex nature of their build combined with their location on the edge of land and sea make them strategic greenbelts that have a doubly protective function. Not only do they enable fish in the lagoon to thrive on nutrients trapped from inland freshwater sources that would otherwise have gone back into the sea, they also help in reducing the impact of natural disasters like Cyclones and tsunamis by acting as buffer zones.

Alayathi means to “reduce the speed of the waves” in Tamil. True to their name the mangrove forests of Muthupettai did exactly function the same during the tsunami disaster in 2004.

Muthupettai and Pichavaram (an area near Chidambaram that has a thick mangrove forest cover) are the two areas where the impact of the tsunami was relatively less.

The lagoon which has 73 varieties of fishes is a rich source of livelihood for fishermen in the 70 villages surrounding it. It has also created employment opportunities for agricultural laborers’ who face seasonal unemployment. The Forest Department in Thiruvarur periodically undertakes mangrove regeneration programmes and employs female laborers’ to sow mangrove seeds in the selected wasteland near the coast. Male laborers’ are involved in the dredging of the lagoon which ensures free flow of inland water into the sea.

Muthupettaai Mangrove Forests face severe deforestation. Now, almost 9 sq.km is completely in need of afforestation.

Bharathamatha Foundation has already carried out many Mangrove Awareness Programme and Clean- up Drives in the Muthupettai Mangrove Forests.

Bharathamatha is planning to take up afforestation culture activities to populate the degraded areas with more Mangrove saplings and thereby conserve one of most delicate ecosystems in India.

We are planning to plant saplings of Rhizoporasp and Avicenniasp in the 9 sq.km area.

Expected outcome:

1. Successful reforestation will increase the area of present growing stock, which will help in enhancing the ecological role played by the mangroves.

2. Conservation of local flora and fauna.

3. Improved aesthetic value –attract more tourists- promote local economy

4. Academic value of the Mangrove Ecosystem will be increased as more research students will visit Muthupettai Mangrove Forests. School children will undertake educational trips which will bring in more awareness amongst the public on the need for Mangrove Conservation.

Budget:- One Sapling with Plantation labor cost@2$ X 10000 Saplings=20000$

Also See Our Other Projects..
 Hunger Relief For Homeless People
 Mobile Vegetable Bank for Pregnant Women
 Livelihood Support for the Persons with Disability Families
 Dry ration kits distribution for daily wages families
 Shelter Home for the Urban Homeless
 Mobile Nutrition Bank For Malnourished Rural Children
 Mobile Food Bank For Homeless People
 Renovation of Thatched Huts / House for Daily labourers Families
 Livelihood Skill Development For Transgender People
 Mangrove Afforestation For Natural Disaster Prevention
 Food Bank with Community Kitchens for the poor Children/Aged people