Initiative to revive Hental forest begins in Puri

Astarang: In a remarkable display of grassroot environmental activism, local communities and NGOs have initiated a major ecological restoration project to reintroduce the Phoenix Paludosa (Hental) at Devi River estuary. The initiative, spearheaded by the Odisha Paribesh Suraksha Abhiyan Trust (OPSAT), in collaboration with Sabuja Sakha Astaranga, and supported by Dharitri and Orissa POST, aims to restore 10 hectares of Hental mangrove forests, covering different coastal gram panchayats through community participation under ‘One Million Mangroves By 2030’ mission. “We realised we couldn’t wait any longer for official channels to carry out the revival effort,” said OPSAT Managing Trustee Soumya Ranjan Biswal. “Our community-driven initiative will not only restore the Hental forests but also significantly enhance local biodiversity,” he added. The initiative has drawn widespread support from local stakeholders, including fisherfolk, women’s groups, and environmental volunteers. “The disappearance of Hental palms affected our coastline and livelihood. This restoration is crucial for our community,” said Purnachandra Kandi, a local fisherman participating in the drive. The launch event saw participation from Sabuja Sakha president Ramakanta Bastia, joined by members Abhaya Kumar Nayak and Deepankar Chatoi, and mangrove community mobiliser trustee Suman Pradhan.