Chennai: The Department of Postgraduate Botany of The New College, an autonomous educational institution located on Peter’s Road, Royapettah, Chennai, and the Mangrove Foundation of India (MFI), based in Pulicat, Tiruvallur district, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at promoting academic development, scientific research collaboration, environmental protection and the conservation of natural resources.
The MoU signing ceremony was held at the college’s Principal’s Office in the presence of Dr. M.Asrar Sheriff, Principal , Dr.A.Hyder Ali, Vice-Principal (Administration) , Dr.Syed Abdul Hameed, Vice-Principal, Shift-II Academic Section and Dr.Amzad Basha Kolar, Head of the Department of Botany. Representing the Mangrove Foundation of India, its Founder and Managing Trustee S.Meerasa and Secretary, M.Abdul Rahman participated in the ceremony and signed the MoU.
Following the signing ceremony, the Department of Postgraduate Botany, The New College, in association with MFI, organised a special awareness lecture titled “Reviving the Roots – The Role of Communities in Mangrove Ecosystem Restoration.”
The programme was inaugurated at the MIIT Auditorium by Dr.M.Asrar Shareef, Principal; Dr.A.Haider Ali, Vice-Principal (Administration); and Dr.Syed Abdul Hameed, Vice-Principal, Shift-I Academic Section. Dr.Amzad Basha Kolar, Head of the Department of Botany, delivered the welcome address.
S.Meerasa, Founder and Managing Trustee of MFI, and M.Abdul Rahman Secretary of MFI, served as special resource persons and explained to the students the ecological significance of mangrove forests and their role in protecting coastal villages, groundwater resources, coastal ecosystems and biodiversity.
They also highlighted the importance of local community participation in restoring mangrove ecosystems and the need for community-based conservation initiatives to ensure the long-term protection of coastal natural resources.
The MoU is expected to create new opportunities for students and faculty members to participate in activities related to mangrove conservation, coastal ecology, environmental restoration and scientific research. The collaboration will also encourage knowledge-sharing, field-based learning and greater student engagement in environmental conservation.
The event was coordinated effectively by the organising secretaries Dr.M.Sheikh Noor Mohamed, Dr.A.Mohamed Niyas, and T.Aravind, Secretary, Department of Botany.
A large number of college faculty members and students of the Department of Botany participated in the programme and benefited from the sessions.
The partnership between The New College and the Mangrove Foundation of India marks an important initiative to strengthen education, research and community participation in mangrove conservation and coastal ecosystem protection, while encouraging young students to take an active role in environmental sustainability.