Restoration and Rehabilitation of Mangrove and Social Forestry Ecosystem in the Coastal Sundarbans
Hingalgunj, North 24 Parganas. Supported by HCL Foundation
Patharpratima, South 24 Parganas. Supported by HCL Foundation
About the project: Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest on the earth; interconnected by many rivers and rivulets of sweet and saline water. Sundarbans covering almost 9630 sq. km. in India and rest part is in Bangladesh. East on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers on the Bay of Bengal.
On the Indian side of the forest, there are 102 islands, among which 54 are inhabited. As per census 2011, the Indian Sundarbans hosts a population of 4.37 million with a density of 957 people /sq.km spreading over North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts and 19 Community Development Blocks. North 24 Parganas, there are 6 blocks and in South 24 Parganas there are 13 blocks. The operation area of Sundarbans Affairs Department is spread over 16 Police Stations.
The mangroves live life on the meeting edge of land and saline water bodies. They can easily call as the botanical amphibians. Mangroves are maintaining an amphibious ecosystem between the saline water bodies and the land. Mangroves are depending on the coastal land and tidal flows for their nourishment. Mangroves are adapted to a wide range of salinity and flooding conditions.
As the other side of that, it has to suffer from both the ends. On the side of the water bodies, it has to face erosion, natural calamities like sudden storms and cyclones, increased sea level, etc. and on the inner side facing the land; it has to face deforestation, fires, agricultural management through the coastal basins. Due to coastal urbanization, aquaculture, agricultural activities, logging and other derogatory practices, mangroves forests are reduced atleast 25% from their global cover.
In this context, a balance needs to be maintained to cope with the increased present day needs and also conserving the environmental support provide by the mangrove plants. Under project 'Restoration and Rehabilitation of Mangrove and Social Forestry Ecosystem in the Coastal Sundarbans' supported by HCLFoundation, DRCSC takes the initiative to plant mangroves and multipurpose trees in Sundarbans region.
The chosen 2 blocks, Hingalganj and Patharpratima are vulnerable to climate change and increased frequency of cyclones and storms are eroding embankments. The reduction of mangrove density is mainly because of extension of human settlement, overharvest of firewood, catching of shrimp spawns, etc.
The project area consists of ten Gram Panchayats of both the districts. Hingalganj, Dulduli, Sandeler Bill, Sahebkathi and Gobindakathi Gram Panchayats of Hingalganj block of North 24 Parganas and Patharpratima, Lakshmijanardhanpur, Durbachati, Achintya Nagar and Heramba Gopalpur Gram Panchayats of Patharpratima blocks of South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
Protection Groups with local women formed for the protection and nurture of the planted Mangrove saplings. Due to continuous soil erosion and degradation of the mangrove patch, the lives of the people living through the banks are in continuous danger. The increase occurrence of cyclones and other related calamities influence local people towards systematic plantation. Total 31 active Mangrove Protection Groups are functioning throughout the project area.
Restoration of ecosystem through conservation of mangroves and social forestry.
Increasing the resilience of the vulnerable communities of Sundarbans towards the adverse impact of climate change.
Plantation of Mangroves and social forestry is a climate change mitigation strategy helps to increase the greeneries, check soil erosion and act as a carbon sink. Mangroves protect the coastlines.
60 ha of Mangrove patch restoration through plantation
Mangroves nurseries raising
Protection of Riverbanks at 22 villages of Hingalganj and Patharpratima blocks
Almost 7 km of roadside plantation under social forestry.
MPT nurseries raising
Awareness generated among the communities and students.
Creation of Harit Mangrove Clubs
Publish of Biodiversity inventory
Fodder distribution among more than 900 families
RESTORATION AND REHABILITATION OF MANGROVE AND SOCIAL FORESTRY ECOSYSTEM IN THE COASTAL SUNDARBANS.