Villagers plant trees to save Sunderban dykes

Shaoli Chakrabarty, The Times of India 17 Sep 09;

GOSABA (SUNDERBANS): Cyclone Aila, which devastated several islands in the Sunderbans and rendered thousands homeless, has taught an invaluable lesson to villagers. Disillusioned with inadequate government aid, villagers have learnt they have to be self-reliant and equip themselves better to face such calamities. Wisened, they are now preparing a bio-shield against storms: mangrove trees that will break the force of waves and protect embankments.

"There's no point waiting for the government to ferry in relief. We have to fend for ourselves and create indigenous protection mechanisms to save our habitat. We have now taken up the responsibility of collecting mangrove seeds to plant them along the stretch of the damaged embankments. The plantation will be done for a year followed by tending the saplings for two more years," said Sarathi Mandal (40) of Mathurakhand Kacharighat.

Watching brick embankments crumble to the hungry tide, villagers have now realized that mangroves provide the only protection to the dykes that are critical to the Sunderbans' survival. Since most islands are below sea level, the 3,500-km-long embankment is the only protection against incursion of saline water that can render farmland barren. Around 800 km of embankment was breached by Aila.

"Aila taught us the importance of mangrove stretches. Embankments that had mangrove plantations have weathered the storm while others have been breached. On September 17, the bhara kotal may trigger a further breach. There is real fear among villagers but we aren't waiting for help from the government. Instead, we have decided to roll up our sleeves and strengthen the embankment ourselves," said Amlamethi resident Rabin Mandal (50).

Marine scientists and geologists have warned that the estuarine delta is most vulnerable to the rising sea level due to global warming. Of the 102 islands here, the 54 inhabited ones have been systematically denuded, leaving them vulnerable to tidal surges and cyclones. And climate scientists predict cyclones will only become more frequent in the region.

A mangrove planting initiative was flagged off in February 2008 by the British High Commission to plug tidal breaches and restore greenery. The ?27,500 grant for the purpose led to the plantation of 400,000 mangroves along a 6-km stretch. Now, chastened by the Aila and seeing how vulnerable embankments are without the protection of mangroves, thousands have joined the initiative.

NGO Nature, Environment & Wildlife Society (NEWS), that partnered the British High Commission project, is now spreading awareness in other villages of the Sunderbans. Community participation in Sonagaon, Dulki, Mathurakhand and Amlamethi has prompted a mangrove sapling plantation drive. This drive is likely to be replicated in other parts of the Sunderbans as well.

Spontaneous meetings led to adoption of the programme whereby the village community, including women and children, decided to participate in the plantation drive without remuneration. Plans to plant seeds on mud-flats along 47-hectare bank and creating mangrove nurseries are also on the anvil.