Nature has provided a beautiful shield against cyclones in the coastal belts in the form of mangroves, but man in his greed has destroyed them and is suffering the consequences, according to Chandi Prasad Bhatt, noted environmental activist and one of the leaders in the Chipko movement in the North to protect green cover in the Himalayas.

He was interacting with the media here on Thursday evening after visiting various Hudhud-hit areas in Visakhapatnam.

He said he had noticed the destruction of mangroves in many areas along the coast and "that is why the intensity of the cyclone has been felt so much. Mangroves, with their rich flora and fauna, are the natural wind-breakers and barriers and in a bid for industrialisation they have been destroyed. The sad story has been repeated here also."

Bhatt said even now belated efforts should be made "to conserve whatever mangroves are still left and efforts should be made for their regeneration''.

He also suggested that in making efforts to restore the green cover in Visakhapatnam city and other cyclone-hit areas, the trees should be carefully chosen. "Traditional species which take deep root and can withstand heavy gales should be chosen. There is no point in planting all sorts of trees which are only decorative and are not suitable for the coastal belt," he suggested.

Bhatt, the recipient of Magsaysay Award and Gandhi Peace Prize, said the floods at Kedarnath, the recent J&K floods and Hudhud had highlighted the effect of climate change on the country. It resulted in melting of glaciers in the Himalayas and the raising sea levels in South India.

B Srirama Murthy, Secretary of the Bhagavathula Charitable Trust, said the trust would organise a workshop on how re-greening of Visakhapatnam should be taken up with the participation of environmentalists, NGOs and government agencies.

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