Community Based Participatory Model for Mangrove Conservation in Indian Sundarban

Abstract

Sundarban - a fragile mangrove ecosystem in south Bengal - has a number of uniqueness to its credit. It is a part of World's largest delta in the Ganga￾Brahmaputra-Meghna basin and home to the biggest mangrove forest on earth. This single largest tiger-mangrove has been recognized as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. A unique mangrove ecosystem, Sundarban, is fundamental to the existence of this part of the world. Natural and first line of sea defense, absorber of cyclonic storms, nursery and breeding ground of fishes and invertebrates, inland contaminant filter, estuary, biodiversity habitat and carbon sequestration are major among its many functions. Present paper focused on participation of community in afforestation program which leads to conservation as well as long term protection of mangrove ecosystem in Sundarban area.