Coastal belt plantations are a natural barrier to high winds and waves. They hold down soil and sand and therefore play significant roles in it conservation. Vegetative shelterbelts are known to act as windbreaks and probably save lives and property during cyclones which occur frequently on the Coramandel coast. In an effort to re-build coastal shelter belts, EXNORA, Chennai decided to undertake small plantations of appropriate species in selected villages.  FERAL and Shakti, Auroville provided technical support for this project.