Mangrove Restoration for Coastal Protection

Bangladesh environment and Development Society (BEDS) has observed The Earth Day 2022 on 22^nd April. The day was celebrated with the aim to spread awareness about issues, including environmental pollution, deforestation, climate change and global warming together with 100 local coastal people living adjacent to Sundarbans. A mangrove tree plantation activity and social art work event was organized to observe the day besides the bank of Poshur river at Kakrabunia, Dacope, Khulna. The theme for Earth Day 2022 is "INVEST IN OUR PLANET", focusing on the effects of climate change on the planet that we all share and what efforts are being made in the real world to mitigate it.

Sundarbans the world’s largest mangrove forest with unique ecosystem and biodiversity is under the threat because of global warming and climate change. So, there is urgent need of taking necessary steps to conserve the mangrove forest with the active involvement of local people. On Earth Day team BEDS planted 600 mangrove saplings together with local people at the bank of Poshur river to increase the mangrove coverage of that area and stop river bank erosion. 100 people including the local government, political leader, teacher, school students and coastal people were participated on the event. They planted the mangrove saplings with various hope in their mind. By holding several placards displaying the importance of community based mangrove restoration and Happy earth day 2022, they encouraged other people to be involved in community based mangrove restoration.

In the social artwork event 20 coastal children drawn the concept of the importance of mangrove in their daily life and they knew about the steps required for successful mangrove plantation in a sustainable way. It was a very new concept which they learned through this event and they also enjoyed the celebration of earth day through the activities.

Any initiative taken for the sake of local people will only be successful when local people take participate on those initiative. So, team BEDS always tried to involve local people in mangrove restoration activity for their better future with nature.

We would like to thank all our donors for their support for us. We are also requesting our donors to start monthly recurring donations. For recurring donation please find the link below;

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/mangrove-plantation-for-coastal-protection/

Every year, March 21 is celebrated as the International Day of Forests since 2013. The day is aimed at raising public awareness about the values, significance, and contributions of the forests to balance the life cycle on the earth. The theme for 2022 is “Forests and sustainable production and consumption”.

With the theme BEDS (Bangladesh Environment and Development Society) has been working for restoring mangroves since 2013. As a part of sustainable production BEDS introduced Integrated Mangrove Aquaculture (IMA) from 2019 at the adjacent village of Sundarbans mangrove forest.

This year on 21^st march, BEDS celebrated International Day of Forest with the marginal shrimp farmers of Pashchim Dhangmari, Dacope sub district of Khulna. 20 shrimp farmers who are also Sundarbans forest dwellers and their family participated on the celebration programme. BEDS team conveys the message about the importance of the day. They also shared the rules and regulation of Bangladesh department regarding wildlife protection and sustainable use of forest resources.

Impact:

Farmers got to know about the danger and punishment of dear poaching and fishing with poison. They also take oath that they will protect dear as well as other wildlife from the poacher. They even also take oath that they will not harm any wildlife if they accidently enter into their land. They also give promises that they will not catch fish using poison in the canals of Sundarbans.

Feedback from shrimp farmers

One the forest dwelling shrimp farmer expressed his feeling. “Today I have learned about International Day of Forest and also got to know about punishment of Forest department about dear poaching and fish poisoning. I also learned that we have to protect the animal and plants of forest for our own interest. I will try to use the forest resources in sustainable way so that Sundarbans forest biodiversity may not hamper.

We would like to thank all our donors for their support for us. We are also requesting our donors to start monthly recurring donations. For recurring donation please find the link below;

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/mangrove-plantation-for-coastal-protection/