Tsunami had played havoc in both the areas of our operation.
COPDANET offered relief and rehabilitation to hundreds of Coastal
Poor with gears and crafts, housing, and other livelihood options.
Till now COPDANET has been engaged in counseling, and
rehabilitation and enabling Tsunami widows to overcome apathy,
sorrow, helplessness. women are engaged in income generation
programmes such as mangrove restoration and conserving activities.
Mangroves afforestation in still going on in Pulicat Island called
Kurvuvithittu, near Chennai, India.
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS
COPDANET entered Andaman and Nicobar Islands at the request of the
poor fishers in 1998 and then worked with other coastal poor
including tribals, locals, migrants and established a Mangrove
Resource Center and Biological Garden in Bamboo Flat, Shoal Bay,
South Andaman in 2004, with the donation of Seacology an U.S.
based NGO which works for preserving Island People cultures
COPDANET did extensive Tsunami Relief Work soon after Tsunami in
December 2004. Now it has been cooperating with peoples
organizations focusing on environment awareness campaigns in
schools, colleges and tribal reserves through popular theatre
plays, posters, picture competitions, celebrating Mangrove Action
Day and holding consultations for like minded Andaman Islanders on
important conservation issues such as climate change.
PULICAT LAGOON OF SOUTH INDIA
Mangrove Conservation and Restoration in Pulicat Lagoon, (close to
Chennai) which is 361 square kilometers spread out in Tamilnadu
and Andhra Pradesh. COPDANET first entered Pulicat lagoon, the
largest salt water lagoon next to Chilka Lake with 40000 people
depending on the lagoon for survival, In 1998 helped the lagoon
fisherfolk to modernize their crafts and gears for better fishing
and improve their quality of life. COPDANET was awarded with
Trophies during Flemingo Festivals consecutively thrice for
planting mangroves and protecting bird sanctuaries in Pulicat
Lagoon by the Regional Government Collectorate in Nellore, A.P.
