BACKGROUND
Decline in fishery resources, livelihood threats to coastal communities, progressive increase in coastal erosion and the subsequent salinity ingress, etc. have cumulatively spurred interest in mangrove conservation. Mangroves play an important role in filtering land run-off and controlling coastal erosion. Besides providing a critical habitat for marine species and terrestrial wildlife, including many finfish and shellfish species, they also regulate flooding and act as a sink for absorbing pollutants brought down by the rivers. The fact that mangroves have one of the highest carbon sequestration rates amongst all plant species makes their propagation very important.
As part of its drive to strengthen coastal ecosystems, Tata Chemicals took up Mangrove Plantation Project at Rukshmani creek site near Dwarka, about 20 km from Mithapur. A similar project for rejuvenation of mangroves was undertaken at Sundarbans (South 24 Parganas), where there was huge destruction due to the Aila storm. In both locations, the approach was to link the conservation project with creation of livelihood opportunities for local communities.
IMPLEMENTATION
Dwarka, Gujarat
The Rukshmani creek site is an extremely challenging location for mangrove development. The site experiences heavy nutrient loading every year. This occurs as the creek acts as a monsoon drain for rainwater from a vast catchment area. The accumulated silt here provides nutrient for proliferation of an algae called the 'Enteromorpha'. This algae envelope the sapling and the foul gases released by the decomposing bottom layer suffocates the sapling, resulting in mortality within hours.
The case was put up before mangrove experts at the international mangrove meets at Colombo, Bangkok and Chennai and every time, the solution that emerged was to stop nutrient loading at Rukshmani Creek site i.e. stop rainwater from flowing into the creek. It was practically impossible to achieve that. Finally, the high-density plantation method was piloted, and it gave a breakthrough. The western part of the creek is today a patch of self-sustaining dense mangrove forest. Mangrove growth on eastern part of the creek has also started picking up.
Sundarbans, West Bengal
The major activities of the project are plantation of mangroves, introducing saline tolerant crops, formation & capacity building of village committees, and promotion of livelihoods through sustainable income generation activities.
The protection of mangroves is done by women groups and is monitored by the members of the village and apex committee. The participation of the community has helped in protecting the mangroves from grazing by animals, which in turn has helped reduce the mortality rate, and today one can witness a survival rate as high as 89%.
IMPACT
At Dwarka,
mangrove cover has
been successfully
restored over
50 ACRES BY USING
THE HIGH-DENSITY
PLANTATION METHOD
The site is now a source of seafood for the fishing community at Rupen Bandar, especially during the monsoon season when fishing at sea is banned. The number of birds recorded here has gone up from 9 species at the beginning of the project, to 32 species.
More than
6.18 LAKH
mangroves
in about
270 ACRES HAVE
BEEN PLANTED IN
SUNDARBANS
The project has given a much needed boost to rural livelihood through development of agriculture, agri-allied activities like goat farming, poultry and developing nursery rearing ponds for prawn, shrimp, duck, and fish farming. Planting mangroves has also contributed to the habitat conservation of the tigers as well as the longevity of Sundarbans.