Sundari – Mangrove restoration project 

Project summary  

The Sundarbans are the world’s largest mangrove ecosystem, covering an area of 10,000 km² over West Bengal in India and Southern Bangladesh. The Indian Sundarbans are home to 4.5 million inhabitants, and the majority relies on mangroves for a living. 

The aim of the Sundari project is to restore 4,000 hectares of urban degraded mangroves in the Indian Sundarbans by planting multiple local species and supporting local livelihoods.  

The project combines natural resources management with environmental and community considerations to ensure its success and alignment with the SDGs.   

EcoAct develops this project with our partner Meensou India Private Limited and their partners on the field, the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCC&I) and the Sundarban Green Environment Association. 

A project by and for the community 

The project has been designed around a community-based approach and seeks to improve local livelihoods for the people of the 24^th South Parganas District in West Bengal, which represents more than 1.5 million inhabitants over 400 communities.  

Community landowners and representatives have been engaged and involved in the project decision taking scheme since the design phase. Members of the community have been trained and hired to develop afforestation, reforestation, and restoration activities, including surveillance and monitoring. 

Restoring ecosystems 

Mangroves act as a natural barrier against the impacts of climate change and natural disasters such as floods or coastal erosion. They also serve as natural commercial fish nurseries, thus supporting the local economy and livelihoods. 

The Sundari project will also help protect the biodiversity in the region (e.g., the Royal Bengal Tiger). 

Aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 13: Climate action

Mangroves sequester and store more carbon per unit area than all terrestrial forests (3 to 5 times tropical forests per ha) and are now recognised for their role in climate change mitigation.

SDG 15: Life on land

Preserve and restore terrestrial ecosystems, ensuring their sustainable use, manage forests sustainably, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt the loss of biodiversity.

SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth

The project will employ locals to implement and monitor project activities, such as coordinating mangrove plantations, maintenance of nurseries and sites, conducting research and monitoring or carrying out sensibilisation activities.

SDG 14: Life below water

Mangroves in the region play an essential role in protecting coastal areas (protection of the coastline and seashore, stabilisation of the coastal substrate and shoreline) against natural disasters such as flooding. They also serve as commercial fish farming areas.

SDG 5: Gender equality

More than 50% of the local workers are women.