Women emerge at the forefront in the cyclone-prone Sundarbans area, protecting the mangrove ecosystem, stabilising river banks through vetiver cultivation and improving their livelihood in the process.
The eastern coast of India faces recurring cyclones that batter lives, livelihoods and the coastline. In the Sundarbans in West Bengal, the risks also include loss of land due to increased erosion, damage to coastal infrastructure and salinisation of freshwater resources.
The Sundarbans is a Ramsar and UNESCO World Heritage Site, sheltering 84 species of flora, including 26 mangrove species; and 453 species of fauna, including 120 species of fish, 290 species of birds, 42 species of mammals, 35 reptiles and eight amphibian species. Nearly 4.5 million people live in this estuarine ecosystem.
With sea incursion and cyclones, salinity increases, impacting the people as well as the ecosystem. The decrease in freshwater run-off affects the growth of mangrove trees. Indigenous communities struggle to sustain their livelihoods, as their everyday life is a battle with wild animals, natural disasters and anthropogenic activities.
To mitigate the impact of climate change in the Sundarbans, Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS), a non-profit organisation that works on reviving nature, has been encouraging the local communities to adopt sustainable nature-based solutions.
Storms and cyclones push river water into villages, destroying both agricultural lands and fisheries. Existing traditional knowledge of the biodiversity of Sundarbans is critical not only in restoring life after a disaster but also in building the community’s resilience. Safeguarding mangroves and maintaining their ecological functions is good for the environment and the people.
Women like Supriya Koyal and Gouri Jana of Heramba Gopalpur village in 24 South Parganas district have survived cyclones. They know that river bank protection plays a crucial role in supporting local livelihoods, enhancing resilience to climate change, and in preserving the Sundarbans’ ecological integrity and its cultural heritage for future generations.
Also Read: Amphan deals a severe blow to struggling Sundarbans villagers
To protect the banks of streams, the women plant khus (vetiver) grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides). They mobilise neighbours, community members and panchayat leaders to expedite this work and enthusiastically participate in vetiver plantation drives.
Vetiver grass enhances the structural integrity of the land, and effectively prevents soil and river bank erosion. The roots form a robust network, helping in stream bank stabilisation. Women have learned innovative techniques of vetiver plantations using bamboo struts and coir mats.
Koyal recalled how disasters and interactions with animals affected their livelihoods. Her father was a farmer and a honey collector and the only breadwinner of the family – until he was killed by a tiger.
“Vetiver cultivation will help our women’s group earn better. It will also protect the bank,” she said. Her involvement in planting vetiver grass has helped villagers understand the importance of river bank protection and they have vowed to protect the vetiver cultivation areas from domestic animals and miscreants.
Water bodies get contaminated after severe storms and cyclones, making the water unfit for use. Once contaminated, villagers stop using the water.
Recently a group of farmers sought support to clean and rejuvenate a pond, motivated by a fellow farmer Abbas Gaji of Pathar Pratima village in 24 South Parganas district. They removed plastic items and other debris and treated the polluted water. They bleached the area around the pond.
Watch: Climate change — With 2 tiger attacks a month, Sundarbans reels under human-animal conflict
“During summer, most of the tube-wells dry up, which forces us to depend on the pond for drinking water,” said Gaji. “In the rainy season, we use the pond water for irrigation.”
So far 35 ponds have been cleaned and rejuvenated. Committees of local communities, especially youth, have been formed to maintain the ponds. Regular interactions with experts to maintain and keep the water bodies alive have prompted the farmers to contemplate the use of pisciculture to keep the waters clean and increase the livelihood prospects of the communities and make them economically sound.
Jayanti Mandal, a 32-year-old resident of Achintyanagar village in Pathar Pratima block, is one of the women who have been trained to develop mangrove nurseries and plant saplings on riverbanks.
Mandal is a mother of two, and her husband is studying in Kolkata. She is the sole earner in her family. They have no land. After completing high school, she did not get permission to go to college. The family income came from her private tuition lessons and a small animal farm run by her in-laws.
Through classroom instruction, hands-on work and field visits, Mandal, along with other women, learned how to create and maintain mangrove nurseries. They have also learned about identifying the right spots where they can plant the mangrove saplings. Developing nurseries now helps the women get an additional income.
“Earlier, I was earning Rs 5,000 per month, now I earn over Rs 7,000,” said Mandal. “We hope to earn Rs 11,000 in future.” With the additional income she looks forward to adding to the livestock owned by the family.
Watch: Busier than bees: Sundarbans’ honey collectors
Her leadership skills during the development of the mangrove nursery and her ability to convince people including her family have been a game changer for them.
In addition to nature-based solutions for climate adaptation, the villagers learn about early warning and evacuation through SEEDS’ training programmes on disaster risk reduction. These trainings contribute to the overall resilience of their community. Villagers have been trained on rescue, first aid, early warning and evacuation to relief shelters.
Surajit Khatuya, a 33-year-old daily wage labourer and a fisher from Heramba Gopalpur village, has learned how to assist his community during emergencies.
“During Cyclone Amphan, I didn’t know what to do. But now I have learned practical skills such as rescuing others and safeguarding myself, and to be a capable responder in the face of adversity,” he said.
Safeguard mechanisms such as planting of mangrove saplings, promotion of climate-resilient agriculture and river bank protection using nature-based solutions are helping establish a climate-resilient sustainable ecosystem.
With women leading the climate adaptation works, 21,253 families are adopting nature-based solutions that not only support their livelihoods but also improve the environment. The economic condition of many of these families has improved through these initiatives.
Also Read: Restoring the Sundarbans ecosystem
The lead image shows villagers placing coir mats that will serve as a base for the vetiver grass. (Photo courtesy SEEDS)
Yezdani Rahman is Chief of Programmes, SEEDS
