Mangalore Seminarians Join Mangrove Plantation Drive

Mangalore , September 3, 2025: “Until you dig a hole, you plant a tree, you water it and make it survive, you haven’t done a thing. You are just talking,” said Wangarĩ Maathai, the late Kenyan environmental activist and founder of the Green Belt Movement.

Inspired by such commitment, philosophy students from St. Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore, joined a massive effort to plant 40,000 mangrove saplings. The initiative, spearheaded by the Vana Charitable Trust under the leadership of local environmentalist Jeeth Milan Roche, widely known as the “Tree Man of Mangalore,” brought together volunteers determined to restore coastal ecosystems.

On 26 August 2025, twenty seminarians planted around 3,500 mangrove saplings at Adams Kudru on the Nethravati river belt. They began their work at dawn to take advantage of the low tide, braving thick mud and the risk of broken glass and other sharp objects underfoot. Despite the challenges, they described the day as a rewarding chance to give back to nature and contribute to one of Mangalore’s largest green drives.

Mangroves, which thrive where land meets sea or river, are critical to protecting biodiversity. They grow in muddy, saline soils and create unique habitats for fish, crabs, turtles, birds, and many other species. Their intricate root systems shield coastlines from waves, floods, and erosion while enabling the trees to draw oxygen directly from above the waterline.

The ecological importance of mangroves goes further. They act as natural filters, trapping waste and preventing pollution from reaching open seas. Crucially, mangroves are among the planet’s most efficient carbon sinks. A single mangrove tree is equivalent to 10–12 other trees in its ability to capture carbon dioxide. This is due to their exceptional carbon sequestration capacity – the process of absorbing and storing CO₂ to slow global warming. Unlike many trees, mangroves trap carbon not only in their biomass but also in their waterlogged soils, where it can remain locked away for centuries.

For the seminarians, the plantation drive was more than just environmental action; it was a tangible way of responding to the urgent call for ecological responsibility. By taking part in the effort, they contributed to strengthening coastal resilience, preserving biodiversity, and mitigating climate change.

As one of the seminarians remarked, the experience highlighted that genuine care for creation begins not with words but with hands in the mud and roots in the soil.

Fr. Anil Ivan Fernandes

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