South 24 Parganas district administration is implementing a unique scheme under MGNREGS. Christened as "Green Sunderbans", the project aims at regenerating the mangrove forest in Sunderbans after the devastating effect of Cyclone Aila in 2009. The scheme is unique in extending support to the livelihood of he people and protecting the ecology of this heritage biodiversity.

2. SUNDARBAN

3. Sundarban is
the largest
single block of
tidal
halophytic
mangrove
forest in the
world and
recognised as
World Heritage
Site by
UNESCO.

4. Sunderban Mangrove Forest is
spreaded over 4,20,000 hectres of
area. A large part of it lies in
South 24-Parganas District.

5. Sunderban has a
rich and diversified
flora and fauna.

8. In the last few decades depletion of the Mangrove Forest is
observed due to Geo-climatic changes in the region including
sudden effect of natural disaster like “Aila (2009)”, deteriorating
ecological balance as well as endangering the existence of remote
settlements.

11. THE TASKS WITH MGNREGA
 ENVIRONMENTAL: Restoration of approximately 6000
hectres of Mangrove forest for mitigating ecological
imbalance.
 RESTORATION OF LIFELINES: Protection of river
embankments & earthen dams with Mangrove
Plantation for securing lives of approximately 25 Lakh
of remote habitats against natural calamity.
 CHECKING OF MIGRATION: Prevention from rapid
outward migration of the distressed people by providing
works locally & developing sustainable livelihood.

12. Primarily Forest Department, South 24-Parganas Division was
working on the restoration of Mangrove forest.
But, Local Panchayat Bodies and District Administration of South
24-Parganas realized that the Flagship programme MGNREGS can be
implemented for protection and rapid restoration works through Mangrove
Plantation by Gram Panchayats leading to employment generation for
remote habitats during lean season.
Accordingly necessary plans were prepared through Participatory
Method of Planning to plant approximately 1.17 Cr. of Mangrove seedlings
under MGNREGS in the affected area of Suderban during 2012-13 covering
an area of approximately 2485 hectres.

13.  Gosaba
 Basanti
 Kultali
 Joynagar-2
 Mathurapur-2
64 nos. of Gram
Panchayats of the 8  Patharpratima
Blocks have acted  Namkhana
as PIAs for the  Sagar
schemes

14. Locations of Mangrove Plantation under MGNREGS
Locations of Mangrove Plantation under MGNREGS

15. Methodology
 Gram Panchayat is to take up schemes of Mangrove
Nursery and Mangrove Plantation under MGNREGS and
implement as PIA.
 Schemes are to be included in Annual Action Plan, 2012-
13.
 Estimates are to be prepared and vetted with assistance
from Forest Department.
 Labourers and Supervisors are to be engaged from
Women Self Help Groups.
 Complete 100 days of works are to be provided to all
families of remote settlements.
 Technical Convergence is to be done with Forest
Department.

16. Seasonal Sketch Map of Mangrove Plantation
 Planning of schemes: March, 2012
 Survey, Demarkation & Alignment of sites: March – April, 2012
 Preparation of estimates: March – April, 2012
 Digging of trenches & pits: May - June, 2012
 Plantation of Mangrove seedlings: September – October, 2012
 Collection of Kalabain seeds & Sowing: September - October, 2012

17. Targeted outcome
 Restoration of Mangrove Forest and protecting
remote habitats in Sundarban.
 Plantation of 1.17 Cr. Mangrove seedlings in
Sundarban under MGNREGS.
 Generation of more than 3.5 lakh persondays for
remote habitats in lean season (Monsoon).
 Increase in Women participation and persondays
in Sundarban area.

18. Activities of South 24-Parganas so far
 Identification and demarcation of 2485 hectare of
land for Mangrove Plantation under MGNREGS in
64 GPs under 8 Blocks.
 Intensive training for Technical Persons and PRI
functionaries.
 Estimation and inclusion of schemes in Annual
Action Plan, 2012-13.
 Nurseries for required nos. of Mangrove seedlings
out of total 1.17 Crores. (11 nos of varieties)
 Trench / Pit cutting & thereafter Sowing & Plantation of
approximately 73 Lakh Mangrove seeds & seedlings in 121
nos. of schemes. (Till 31.10.2012)
 Engagement of 100% Supervisors & more than 95% Workers
from Women SHGs.

19. Snaps from some
ongoing works under
Green Sunderban Project

20. Mangrove Nursery at Jhorkhali GP, Basanti Block

21. Mangrove Nursery at Jhorkhali GP, Basanti Block

22. Mangrove Nursery at Nafargunj GP, Basanti
Block

23. Trench Cutting for Mangrove Plantation at Indranarayanpur GP, Patharpratima Block

24. Trench Cutting for Mangrove Plantation at Gangasagar GP, Sagar Block

25. Trench Cutting for Mangrove Plantation at Mollakhali GP, Gosaba Block

26. Mangrove Plantation at Namkhana GP, Namkhana Block

27. Mangrove Plantation at Namkhana GP, Namkaha Block

28. Mangrove Plantation at Gosaba Block

29. A short docu-feature film on
Green Sunderban

31. THANK YOU