Seed ball dispersal drive held in Udupi

Udupi: The Eco Club of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College, in collaboration with the Karnataka forest department, Adi Udupi, and the Manipal Birding and Conservation Trust, organised a seed ball dispersal drive to mark World Environment Day.As part of the initiative, seed balls were prepared by the Eco Club students by combining red soil, vermicompost, and coco peat. Seeds of native tree species such as jackfruit, mango, Pterocarpus marsupium (Honne), Syzygium cumini (Nerale), and Terminalia bellerica (Taare), known to flourish in the local ecosystem, were selected to ensure better germination and long-term growth.The drive was inaugurated with an address by Shivanand, deputy range forest officer (DRFO), who stressed the importance of reforestation and the role of seed balls in enhancing biodiversity and sustaining the environment. He also stressed the need for community-driven conservation efforts.Guided by forest department officials, Eco Club students dispersed approximately 870 seed balls in selected areas of Badagubettu Reserve Forest to enhance the chances of natural regeneration. In addition to the seed balls, saplings provided by the forest department were also planted.Prof Vanitha Mayya, Principal of MGM College, extended her support to the programme. Maneetha TK, convenor of the Eco Club; Thejasvi Acharya, managing trustee of the Manipal Birding and Conservation Trust; and beat forest officers Devaraj Pana, Shrinivas Jogi, and Sowmya were present. Students who participated in the drive later shared their experiences of contributing to this green initiative.