Thoothukudi, Jan. 7 -- The Thoothukudi District Forest Department has been carrying out efforts to expand the extent of mangrove (swamp) forests and restore degraded areas to their natural condition.

The mangrove forests in the Thoothukudi district serve as a primary protective shield for the coastal environment and the livelihoods of residents. Mangroves spread across river mouths, estuaries, and coastal stretches are of immense ecological and socio-economic importance.

These mangrove forests function as natural barriers that protect coastal settlements, roads, and other basic infrastructure from natural hazards such as coastal erosion, storm surges during cyclones, tidal inundation, and saline water intrusion. As a result, the safety ...