As climate change accelerates, its effects are becoming increasingly severe, particularly in economically disadvantaged coastal regions. India’s coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to frequent and intense tropical cyclones. Mangrove restoration is emerging as a crucial strategy to combat these impacts, serving as natural carbon sinks and providing protection against coastal disasters.

The Sundarbans, one of the world’s largest and most significant mangrove forests, is located in the delta of the Brahmaputra, Meghna, and Ganges rivers, near the Bay of Bengal. In India, it spans South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, and Purba Midnapore districts in West Bengal. This vital mangrove habitat supports diverse coastal wildlife and plant species, forming the foundation of coastal ecosystems. However, parts of the Sundarbans are currently facing significant degradation that could worsen without prompt restoration efforts.

Kajla Janakalyan Samity, in partnership with various international and national organizations, has launched a mangrove restoration and carbon project in collaboration with local village panchayats in the South 24 Parganas region. The initiative aims to create employment opportunities, prevent coastal soil erosion, and mitigate cyclone-related disasters. Additionally, the project seeks to support local livelihoods through carbon finance and advance several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the grassroots level. 

The project has enhanced ecosystem health and biodiversity by removing greenhouse gases and restoring mangrove forests. In partnership with the Forest Department, mangrove planting was carried out on 281 hectares in the Gopalnagar, Achintyanagar, Lakshmi Janardhanpur, Banashyamnagar, Ramganga and G-Plot Gram Panchayats within the Patharpratima block of South 24 Parganas. Members of 24 women’s self-help groups planted and are now maintaining 800,000 mangrove plants. 

As climate change accelerates, its effects are becoming increasingly severe, particularly in economically disadvantaged coastal regions. India’s coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to frequent and intense tropical cyclones. Mangrove restoration is emerging as a crucial strategy to combat these impacts, serving as natural carbon sinks and providing protection against coastal disasters.

The Sundarbans, one of the world’s largest and most significant mangrove forests, is located in the delta of the Brahmaputra, Meghna, and Ganges rivers, near the Bay of Bengal. In India, it spans South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, and Purba Midnapore districts in West Bengal. This vital mangrove habitat supports diverse coastal wildlife and plant species, forming the foundation of coastal ecosystems. However, parts of the Sundarbans are currently facing significant degradation that could worsen without prompt restoration efforts.

Kajla Janakalyan Samity, in partnership with various international and national organizations, has launched a mangrove restoration and carbon project in collaboration with local village panchayats in the South 24 Parganas region. The initiative aims to create employment opportunities, prevent coastal soil erosion, and mitigate cyclone-related disasters. Additionally, the project seeks to support local livelihoods through carbon finance and advance several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the grassroots level.

The project has enhanced ecosystem health and biodiversity by removing greenhouse gases and restoring mangrove forests. In partnership with the Forest Department, mangrove planting was carried out on 280 hectares in the Gopalnagar, Achintyanagar, Lakshmi Janardhanpur, Ramganga, Banashyamnagar, G-Plot Gram Panchayats within the Patharpratima block of South 24 Parganas. Members of 120 women’s self-help groups planted and are now maintaining 800,000 mangrove trees.

• 65% of group members contributed to education and health funds for needy children.
• 90% of the groups created emergency funds, benefiting 6,938 women.
• 70% of women developed skills in leadership, financial management, animal husbandry, organic farming, and accessing government facilities.
• 80% of members engaged in income-generating activities, earning an average of 1,800 rupees per month.
• 90% of groups are actively working to prevent child marriage.
• 1,800 women from 262 groups set specific goals for economic, social, and political improvement and began implementing various activities.
• 33.33% of women have improved their nutrition intake.
• 65.08% of women have maintained personal health and hygiene practices in their families.
• 65.07% of women have benefited from connecting with various government schemes.