Villagers plant trees to save Sunderban dykes

GOSABA(SUNDERBANS): Cyclone Aila, which devastated several islands in the Sunderbansand rendered thousands homeless, has taught an invaluable lesson to villagers.Disillusioned with inadequate government aid, villagers have learnt they have tobe self-reliant and equip themselves better to face such calamities. Wisened,they are now preparing a bio-shield against storms: mangrove trees that willbreak the force of waves and protect embankments."There's no pointwaiting for the government to ferry in relief. We have to fend for ourselves andcreate indigenous protection mechanisms to save our habitat. We have now takenup the responsibility of collecting mangrove seeds to plant them along thestretch of the damaged embankments. The plantation will be done for a yearfollowed by tending the saplings for two more years," said Sarathi Mandal (40)of Mathurakhand Kacharighat.Watching brick embankments crumble tothe hungry tide, villagers have now realized that mangroves provide the onlyprotection to the dykes that are critical to the Sunderbans' survival. Sincemost islands are below sea level, the 3,500-km-long embankment is the onlyprotection against incursion of saline water that can render farmland barren.Around 800 km of embankment was breached by Aila."Aila taught us theimportance of mangrove stretches. Embankments that had mangrove plantations haveweathered the storm while others have been breached. On September 17, the bharakotal may trigger a further breach. There is real fear among villagers but wearen't waiting for help from the government. Instead, we have decided to roll upour sleeves and strengthen the embankment ourselves," said Amlamethi residentRabin Mandal (50).Marine scientists and geologists have warned thatthe estuarine delta is most vulnerable to the rising sea level due to globalwarming. Of the 102 islands here, the 54 inhabited ones have been systematicallydenuded, leaving them vulnerable to tidal surges and cyclones. And climatescientists predict cyclones will only become more frequent in theregion.A mangrove planting initiative was flagged off in February2008 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 mangrovesalong a 6-km stretch. Now, chastened by the Aila and seeing how vulnerableembankments are without the protection of mangroves, thousands have joined theinitiative.NGO Nature, Environment & Wildlife Society (NEWS),that partnered the British High Commission project, is now spreading awarenessin 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 aswell.Spontaneous meetings led to adoption of the programme wherebythe village community, including women and children, decided to participate inthe plantation drive without remuneration. Plans to plant seeds on mud-flatsalong 47-hectare bank and creating mangrove nurseries are also on theanvil.