Mangrove Restoration Along Buckingham Canal in Chennai

The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has planted 20,000 mangrove seedlings across 20 hectares along the Buckingham Canal during 2025–26.

• The initiative aims to restore coastal ecosystems and enhance climate resilience in Chennai.

Innovative “Fishbone” Canal System

• To support mangrove growth, officials designed an innovative “fishbone” canal system to ensure proper tidal flow of saline water, which is essential for mangrove survival.
• The system includes:
  • 8 main fishbone canals
  • 8 feeder canals
  • 186 distribution channels
• These channels enable effective circulation of seawater across the plantation area, creating favourable conditions for mangrove ecosystems.

Previous Phase (2024–25)

• Around 12,500 mangrove seedlings belonging to six species were planted across 20 hectares, including:
  • Rhizophora mucronata
  • Bruguiera cylindrica
  • Avicennia marina
  • Aegiceras corniculatum
  • Excoecaria agallocha
  • Acanthus ilicifolius
• Additionally, about 2,500 associated coastal species were planted along the canal banks to strengthen the habitat.

Second Phase

• Approximately 5,000 mangrove saplings were planted at Battle of Adyar Island, located at the estuary of the Adyar River.

Latest Phase (2025–26)

• The most recent phase added 20,000 mangrove seedlings from five species:
  • Avicennia marina
  • Avicennia officinalis
  • Rhizophora mucronata
  • Rhizophora apiculata
  • Excoecaria agallocha

Source: DD