The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Chennai-based M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) will work together for the conservation of coastal resources, with focus on the restoration of the Sorlagondi mangrove forest cover in Krishna district.

“The UNFCCC has sanctioned Rs. 3.8 crore for the potential adaptation strategy of MSSRF in Krishna district through an ‘adaptation fund’. A roadmap to improve the mangrove forest cover in 200 acres and fish cultivation in around 50 acres of mangrove forest is ready, and it will be executed in August,” MSRRF Project Co-ordinator Rama Subrahmanyam said.

“The abandoned land will be brought under fish cultivation, while landless families will be involved in cage cultivation in three villages - Sorlagondi and Nali in Nagayalanka mandal and Basavanipalem in Koduru mandal,” he added.

Cage cultivation

He added that cage cultivation would be encouraged in brackish water by setting up 10 cages in the three villages, which had been adopted by MSSRF. The UNFCCC will release the adaptation fund through the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.

An official release by Nabard reads: “Restoration of degraded mangroves will be undertaken with native multiple mangrove species, which in turn would avoid ingression of seawater”.