Port Blair, June 6: The scientific team of ICAR-CIARI Regional Station, Minicoy under the plan and guidance of Dr. E. B. Chakurkar, Director ICAR- CIARI, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, organizedplantation drive on 05.06.2024. In connection with‘World Environment Day celebration 2024’. Theplanting drive was carried at ICAR-CIARI RS Minicoy Farm under the campaign slogan “Our land Our future”. Plantation was done with spices plants like Cinnamon (12 nos.), Black pepper (12 nos.) & Nut meg (5) under coconut plantation of 281 sq. area in the presence of villages Moopans of Minicoy.

Beside mangrove clean-up drive at Eastern side of the coast in a stretch area of 500 meters (site Sedivalu Bandaram, Minicoy) was also conducted. The team collected around 5 bags of litters comprising of abandoned, plastic caps, bottles, plastic bags, cans, styrofoam, ropes, electric waste etc. The scientific team sensitized the people of the area on ecosystem health & citizen science approaches for sustainable management. Also spread the message ofecological restoration and afforestation &plastic-free, litter-free and pollution-free towards sustainable future.

The scientific team comprising of, Dr. Gladston Y., Dr. Ajina S.M. & Dr. S.K Zamir Ahmed along with Shri. Shareefuddeen Hassan & Shri. Arif M.I conducted the programme.