West Bengal which is home to about 40% of mangrove forests in India, announced the setting up of a ‘Mangrove Cell’ in the State, on the occasion of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem on Wednesday.
“This platform will bring certain continuity to the efforts of State government in mangrove management. Not only will the Cell have an annual action plan for the plantation of mangroves, it will look at maintenance and coordinate with NGOs,” Vivek Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary to the State’s Forest Department, said on Wednesday.
Mr. Kumar made the announcement during a national symposium on “Building synergies for healthy mangroves and robust value chain around the mangrove ecosystem in Sundarban” in Kolkata. The Secretary said that the Mangrove Cell will generate funds from private and international sectors, as well us publish books and conduct research on the subject.
