Mangrove Restoration and Long-Term Protection through Value Chain Development for Local Community in Sundarban

Funded by: SMFG India Credit

Project Duration: July 2023 – March 2027

Details: The Indian Sundarban is a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot and a UNESCO World Heritage site. However, the unsustainable exploitation of resources, including illegal fishing, deforestation, and pollution, poses a threat to the delicate ecosystem and the long-term viability of livelihoods dependent on these resources. Effective conservation and resource management practices are needed to ensure the sustainable development of the region. In order to implement community-based reforestation, replanting and restoring mangrove forests in 2 hectares of area is undertaken. This involves planting nursery-reared

mangrove saplings through stewardship model and ensuring their long-term survival. Capacity building and strengthening groups of 60 individual stewards through a series of training and handholding sessions on Backyard Poultry Farming (BYPF) practices within Sundarban to help them improve their livelihood and overall mindset. Installation of a solar incubator, enabling the stewards to hatch the egg and continue the BYPF cycle. Also, the stewards can sell the chicks locally, and through that, the income will increase.

Project Objective:

To restore 2 ha degraded mangrove area with 12000 nursery-raised saplings involving
10-15 women from the local community.
To increase the technical capacity of 200 farmers for the restoration of soil fertility in the Patharpratima block
To Augment the livelihood of the local farmer group by strengthening the value chain through a mini pulse mill and development of market linkage through Badabon
Farmers Producer Company (BFPCL)

Project Outcomes:

2 ha mangrove area at K plot , Paschim Sripatinagar have been restored
Income augmentation by 10-12% of 60 women

Project location:

Achintyanagar, Digambarpur, Ramganga, Sridharnagar GP, Patharpratima, Indian

Sundarban