The coastal Sundarban turns extremely vulnerable during cyclone season as the area is prone to tidal surges. The Climate Change aggravates intensity of weather. The embankments built across the island are not enough to protect the coastal settlements from seeping sea water when the cyclones get more severe due to climate change. This leads to the loss of lives, livelihoods and salt water intrusion into agricultural fields.
Mangroves play the first layer of protection for the islanders from the major tropical cyclones by reducing waves and storm surges. The aerial roots of mangrove forests retain sediments and stabilize the soil in the areas between high tide and low tide (intertidal areas) by reducing erosion during storms and floods. Moreover, they are the most carbon-rich forests among all the major forest domains of the world. They provide a safe refuge for aquatic organisms and protect people from natural disasters thus acting as bio shield. Hence, it was naturally the best choice for plantation.
During 2020 to 2022, SEED planted 3.5 lakhs of Mangroves in Jharkhali GP and 1 lakh in Ghoramara GP of Sundarban, which are among the most vulnerable islands of Sundarban. The plantations were done on the river bed of Matla and Bidyadhari at Jharkhali GP of Basanti Block and on the embankment of Muriganga river at Ghoramara GP of Sagardwip block.
The plantation programmes were conducted with the consent of Jharkhali GP and Ghoramara GP and active participation from local CBOs and SHGs and funding support from corporates under CSR programme. 2450 numbers of community members in Jharkhali and 250 numbers in Ghoramara participated in the plantation programme. Apart from environmental protection, the plantation programme benefitted 25 thousand coastal community members in Jharkhali and 5.5 thousand in Ghoramara Island.
Local beneficiary committees were formed to protect the mangroves from cattle, goats and any other harmful acts.
This newly formed mangrove ecosystem will also serve as a nursery and feeding ground for crustaceans, fishes and molluscs thus benefitting the marine biodiversity. Mangrove nursery has also been formed which will empower the local women as they are running the nursery and looking after the planting process.
The water quality will also be protected as the mangroves remove pollutants from stormwater runoff before they reach seagrass habitats. Mangroves provide nursery habitat for many commercial fish and shellfish, and thus contribute to the local abundance of seafood. They also provide shelter to a range of wildlife species including birds and honey bees thus enhancing honey production for the local communities.