SOCIAL FORESTRY PROGRAMME

Sundarban Development Board has since been implementing afforestation programme through three programme elements, namely Mangrove Plantation, Strip Plantation & Farm Forestry. These programmes are implemented by the Social Forestry wing of the Board through its three Range Offices located at Namkhana, Canning and Hasnabad and six Beat Offices at Sagar, Roydighi, Joynagar, Canning, Nezat & Hasnsbad.

  Mangrove Plantation:

Large-scale deforestation for human settlement in Sundarbans has seriously affected the entire ecosystem and the surrounding environment. The coastline and foreshores on both sides of tidal rivers are under serious threat of erosion and the river embankments are becoming vulnerable in course of time. This has not only affected the land structures and disturbed the siltation process of this deltaic region but also adversely affected the natural habitat of flora & fauna. The region being famous as a 'nursery' of the marine fauna is under serious threat due to degeneration of mangroves in the inter tidal zones.

Considering the gravity of the situation board undertook forestation of mangroves in the inter tidal zones of charlands and after that this has been extended to mudflats. Plantation techniques followed under this programme are: i) raising of nurseries of mangrove seedlings and subsequent transplantation in the silted up trenches & pits and ii) direct planting of mangrove seedlings grown naturally in the charlands. SD Board has so far created mangrove forests in considerable areas of charlands adjacent to the villages and maintains these successfully with the support of local inhabitants, panchayats & NGOs but a few exceptions.

   Strip Plantation:

This plantation works are mainly done on the both sides of roads constructed by the Board. Initially under plantation were timber, fodder, & fuel but the trend has been changed in recent years. Emphasis has been given on plantation of fruit bearing trees under this programme. The departmental Mazdoors and hired labourers do the plantation work. A policy framework for involving NGOs and voluntary organizations in planting and maintaining the same is under consideration of the Board.

   Farm Forestry:

Through this programme, seedlings of plant species of timber, fuel & fruits are raised for distribution amongst the intending households and organizations for plantation. A token amount is recovered from the recipients of these plants under this programme.

The Physical and financial achievements in this sector during 2004-05 are given in the following tables.

Programme for Replantation of Mangroves in Bhanaankhali area of   Basanti Block:

SD Board created a big chunk of mangrove forest in the charlands of Matla river adjacent to Bhangankhali GP of Basanti Block. Some miscreants provoked local people, with a false propaganda and misled them for mass felling of mangrove trees for a total area of about 107 ha. Board initiated legal action against the miscreants. The administration along with PRIs, NGOs, students & teachers of schools in the adjacent area and local people under the leadership of the Hon'ble Minister, Sundarban Affairs Department came forward to take direct initiatives against the miscreants and to take steps for regeneration of mangroves in the damaged charlands of Bhangankhali. In response to a call from the administration, the miscreants returned 20 truckloads of woods to the Board, which was handed over to the WBREDA, a Govt. enterprise, for use in their gassifire plants in Gosaba Block.

SD Board organized a massive programme for re-plantation of mangroves in the charland of Bhangankhali on 10.9.2004. On that occasion a mass rally was organized at Bhangankhali point where the people from all walks of life assembled with posters, festoons, banners, etc. in support of conservation of ecology and Sundarban biosphere. They also took oath for conservation of mangrove forests for the very existence of Sundarban. The people spontaneously joined hands for transplantation of mangroves in the damaged charland. The response of the local people was encouraging.

The staffs of the Social Forestry Division of the Board were entrusted with the protection of the replanted area and to complete plantation in the rest charland.

  Fishery Programme

  Non - Conventional Energy Programme

SD Board undertook a programme for installation of Solar Home Lighting Systems in the hostels attached to the schools situated in the areas not connected with conventional Power Supply. During 2004-05, 160 units of SHLS had been installed in 52 School Hostels under subsidy programme of the State govt. The SD Board had to pay an amount of Rs. 6,000=00 per unit of SHLS and the utilizing agency remitted an amount of Rs. 1,000=00 only per SHLS. Total expenditure for the programme was Rs. 9.6 lakhs. The WB Renewable Energy Development Agency (WBREDA) was entrusted with the work of installation and maintenance of the systems for next three years.