meeting with local authorities for execution of the project

Actual Work done

Plantation activities carried out on both side of dam in different layers considering plant height for beautification of forest and soil accretion appropriate for particular plants. Total 1000 different types of sapling (App 2 feet height) have been planted on both side of dam out of that 800 mangrove plants planted in forest land and 140 food producing plant, 60 domestic plants have been planted in ownership land. The following are the configurations:-

• (a) 300 Byne trees have been planted in the first Layer from low wet land near river. This species produce more oxygen in the air, hold the soil and can save the adjacent village from storm.
• (b) 100 Kholse trees have been planted next to the Byne tree in the first Layer close to the river. This species produce flower for best quality honey.
• (c) 20 Dhundal trees have been planted next to the Kholse tree in the first Layer close to the river. This species produce a beautiful looking fruit.
• (d) 100 Goran tree have been planted second layer towards dam. This species can strongly grip the wet soil.
• (e) 230 Kakra tree have been planted in the third layer towards dam. This species can strongly grip the wet soil and gain a good height.
• (f) Finally close to the dam, 50 Sundari trees have been planted. That will look beautiful from river side as well as from dam.

local people engaged for mangrove plantation in forest

• a) 30 Mahogany trees have been planted in the first Layer from dam on slope. This is a precious species of tree.
• b) 30 Lambu trees have been planted in the next layer on plain land. This species grow very high in sort time.

Suggested Method was Miyayiki process. However process could not be fully adhered to because of various practical reasons.

The rationale for planting Cocoanut trees and Beetle nuts is due to the fact that in the event of salt water ingress, these trees will continue to survive to support the family’s economy, albeit land degradation is distinct possibility in future.

• a) 40 Coconut trees have been planted around a pond. These will produce fruits from 6th year and help economic support to the family.
• b) 100 Beetle nut trees have been planted around a pond in between coconut trees. It will produce fruit from 5th year and help economic support to the family.

Barricading

Enter plantation activities were first barricaded by wire fence and net before plantation.

Modus operandi of Healthy Climate Initiative conforms to its network thinking in respect of cluster concept, multi layer plantation of different varieties of plants in sequence covering Mangrove, Miyayaki process for high growth plant and Fruit bearing trees for blending ecology and economy for sustainable process in line with Kaveri Calling concept for income generation in future. HCI believes putting more efforts and resources on protecting plants than the cost of the plants and carry out these out of their own investment. It was observed that many organizations did plantation without protecting them, which served more of the optics than real purpose.

Future sustainability

In order to sustain this pilot this project in the long term, arrangement has been made to water, to put organic manure and care for these plants for next six months. Water pump with pipes will be procured so that watering can be done easily without putting much manual effort .

Timeline

• a. Ground activities of Pilot Project started on 25.11.2020
• b. Plantation work completed on 12.12.2020
• c. Barricading work (90%) on 04.12.2020
• d. Pump procurement 25.12.2020
• e. Monitoring , Watering and Nourishment of trees :- Continuous for min next 6 months

Justification of the Project :

The plantation of mangroves around villages at the Periphery of the Sundarban has direct implication in rural livelihoods by better safety feeling by guarding them from Climate Disaster, Income Generating activities , creating jobs in nursery and planting activities, improve fisheries catch, provide flowers, fruit, fodder and fuel to rural communities and wildlife, improve carbon sequestration.

The ecosystem is showing degradation, with loss of important and globally endangered mangrove species due to felling, disease and altered freshwater inputs, changes to vegetation communities, intense and on-going coastal erosion, retreat and cyclonic disaster.

The Sunder ban delta belts have entered into the danger zone of submerge due rise of the sea level at an alarming rate and had to withstand devastating impact of the recent Amphan storm caused by the Development of vortex in the Pacific Ocean due to abnormal heat flux. Ghoramara & Moushimi Island are disappearing under sea.

Jharkhali is having around 40 km dam that protects this area from sea water ingress during high tide. Menacingly the level of the water during high tide is higher than the Jharkhali plane in most of the areas. An assessment has been made regarding possibility of plantation. Accordingly a clustering plan has been made comprising of 100 meter dam length which will cover Mangrove forestation as well as Agro forestry for income generating activities for adjacent landowners. In a first phase 10 km dam length will be covered which will cover about 100 clusters. This will cover about beneficiaries about 500 households.

Mangroves forests are highly productive and diverse ecosystems, providing a wide range of direct ecosystem services for resident populations. In addition, mangroves function as a buffer against frequently occurring cyclones; helping to protect local settlements and protect the remaining population of Bengal tigers. Knowing the above fact in brief, Jharkhali Gram Panchayat team has agreed to work with HCI in Sundarban for improving the ecology by plantation of mangrove trees across the 40 kilometer long river bed in Sundarban - Jharkhali Region and supporting local villagers to improve their economy.

Regarding Jharkhali Panchayat area

Jharkhali is a village and a gram panchayat within the jurisdiction of the Basanti police station in the Basanti CD block in the Canning subdivision of the South 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of HCI Bengal. It is a flat low-lying area in the South Bidyadhari plains. The Matla River is prominent and there are many streams and water channels locally known as khals. A comparatively recent country-wide development is the guarding of the coastal areas with a special coastal force.

How HCI executed the plan

HCI have conducted meeting with Forest Officer, dedicated competent people and villagers on 10 November 2020 with its proposal and desire to work in Sundarban and obtained their whole hearted and overwhelmed approval. Consequently HCI has identified interested persons and beneficiaries in the Jharkhali to assist them in the plantation program. Accordingly First Pilot Project was executed.

the project implementation team at the site

Future Plan

• a. In 2nd phase HCI will extend its program by imparting skill development and motivational training for students to work in Sundarban region.
• b. HCI will put effort for fund mobilization from various sources.
• c. HCI has submitted one proposal for CSR approval
• d. If fund can be arranged, Pilot project will be duplicated along another 10 KM, which will develop another 100 clusters.
• e. Thereafter HCI will identify the students from the villages and motivate them to generate their energy for creating an ecosystem and give guidance to overcome the hurdles in the wake of progression and equip them to face the reality.

Beneficiaries

• a. Once the project is implemented, 500 houses will be directly benefited from erosion of their land and earning from fruits produced by the plant.
• b. It will create a demand in nursery for their economic development.
• c. It will improve ecosystem in the region.

local women came forward to work in our project and they have been rewarded

Beneficiaries

• a. In 2nd phase HCI will extend its program by imparting skill development and motivational training for students to work in Sundarban region.
• b. HCI will put effort for fund mobilization from various sources.
• c. HCI has submitted one proposal for CSR approval
• d. If fund can be arranged, Pilot project will be duplicated along another 10 KM, which will develop another 100 clusters.
• e. Thereafter HCI will identify the students from the villages and motivate them to generate their energy for creating an ecosystem and give guidance to overcome the hurdles in the wake of progression and equip them to face the reality.

Budget Vs real expenditure for the pilot Project

Cost Estimate (for each cluster i.e. 100 meter length)

• a. Cost of 1000 Mangrove Plant seedling : Rs. 10000.00
• b. Cost of Plantation by local beneficiaries: Rs. 5000.00
• c. Cost of making Barricade to save the plant : Rs. 22000.00
• d. Monthly cash reward to the beneficiary for nourishing the plant for a period of six months : Rs. 18000.00
• e. Total Budget of the pilot project for a period of six months: Rs 55000.00 (Rupees Fifty five thousand only).

Total Expenditure So far: - Rs 43650.00

Pending Expenditure

Cost Estimate (for each cluster i.e. 100 meter length)

• a. Cash Rewards for six months Rs 18000.00
• b. .5 HP Pump with Pipes :Rs 4000.00
• c. Additional Fence/ Labor Etc :- Rs 2500.00

Expected Expenditure for First Cluster: - Rs 70,000.00 (Expenditure overshoot by Rs 15000.00)

Above expenditure expenses preclude all visits and associated incidental cost, which are borne by HCI visiting personnel.