Kolkata, West Bengal
On the island of Casamance in Senegal, West Africa, you will find an elderly man planting mangrove saplings deep in the mud, beneath the water. He plants one sapling, then moves just two steps away to plant another.
In this way, the elderly gentleman has been planting mangrove saplings beneath the water for over ten years. Isn’t that astonishing? It is indeed remarkable, but even more astounding is the fact that this gentleman has planted not just hundreds or thousands, but over 152 million mangrove saplings, turning the Casamance island in southern Senegal into a full-fledged mangrove forest! And who is this elderly man? His name is Haidar el Ali (born 1953).
He is no ordinary person. Haidar is Senegal’s current Fisheries Minister and also the former Minister of Ecology. But his greatest passion is increasing the number of mangrove plants by planting saplings and saving the mangrove forests.
Haidar el Ali is also the president of an environmental organization called the "Senegalese Green Party."
Haidar el Ali
Now, let’s delve into the story of this battle to save the mangroves.
Once upon a time, mangrove trees were cut indiscriminately in the area, rendering it barren of mangroves. The result of this mangrove deforestation was catastrophic, as salt levels began to rise in the paddy fields, destroying the crops.
This incident left a deep mark on Haidar’s mind.
He then decided that, no matter what, he would save the mangrove forest. Thus began his battle to achieve the impossible and to instil faith amidst disbelief. With the help of the local residents, Haidar el Ali has spent more than ten years planting over 150 million mangrove saplings. As a result, the once barren land is now filled with thriving mangrove forests.
This shows that with goodwill, tireless efforts, and the support of the locals, even a lost mangrove forest can be restored!
Today, the Casamance island in southern Senegal has become a vast mangrove forest. In fact, this region is one of the largest Avicennia mangrove forests in the world. The leaves of the Avicennia trees absorb salt from the water, making it easy to cultivate rice alongside the forest.
Snails, which are a favorite food of fish, make their homes among the mangrove roots. The abundance of this food has caused the fish population in the rivers surrounding the mangrove forest to flourish. The local people depend on these fish for their livelihood.
In this way, a thriving ecosystem has been created around the mangrove forest, which has also become a source of sustenance for the people.
Thus, the mangrove forest sustains itself and everyone around it. And the key guardian of this forest is the country’s former Minister of Ecology and current Minister of Fisheries, Haidar el Ali, who remarked in an interview, "The time it takes for a single mangrove to grow after cutting, we actually lost that much time. Now, every moment is crucial. This planet needs many, many trees and forests."
Indeed, to save our planet, we need many more trees and forests.
Therefore, long live the mangrove forests, and may people like Haidar el Ali, the creators and protectors of the forests, continue to emerge from among us.
According to Haidar el Ali, “Humans have the power to restore what they have destroyed.” Thus, nature too can be restored with the help of nature-loving people like Haidar el Ali.
Sources:
dakghar24.com | sillypoint.co.in | Wikipedia website