Community Based Mangrove Restoration in the Sundarbans

EcoAct is an international climate consultancy and project developer dedicated to helping businesses and organizations achieve their climate ambitions. By developing nature-based solutions projects, EcoAct enables companies to leverage natural ecosystems for carbon sequestration, while simultaneously enhancing biodiversity and community resilience. In this process, EcoAct serves as the vital link between companies providing upfront investment and local implementation partners responsible for executing the projects on the ground.

Among the most vital of these natural ecosystems are coastal environments, particularly mangroves, which serve as significant carbon sinks that can store up to five times more carbon than other forests. Their degradation, however, results in substantial carbon emissions, making mangrove restoration an efficient nature-based solution that not only mitigates climate change, but also reduces community vulnerability while restoring vital ecosystem services.

In this context, the Sundari project is being co-developed by EcoAct and Meensou India Private Limited and aims to restore more than 4,000 hectares of degraded mangroves in the Indian Sundarbans through Community Based Mangrove Ecological Restoration. The Sundarbans, right in the convergence of the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers, in the border between India and Bangladesh, is the largest mangrove forest of the world but it is also one of the most threatened as the 24 South Parganas is one of the most densely populated Districts of India. Due to the growing development and the exposure to continuous climate risks like floodings, cyclones and coastline erosion, the area is highly vulnerable to climate change.

Sundari combines scientific rigor with active community involvement, ensuring equal opportunities for women and men in implementation and monitoring. The project not only focuses on ecological restoration but also creates sustainable economic opportunities and livelihood diversification for local villages, easing the pressure on mangrove forests and strengthening the natural resilience of these communities.

Certified under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and with an initial duration of 20 years, the project is expected to remove millions of tCO2e. The first phase, Sundari I, launched in November 2023, covers 450 hectares in Sagar Island and Namkhana in the South 24 Parganas district. This initial instance aims to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere over two decades by planting more than 1.4 million trees across four sites.

In conclusion, the Sundari Mangrove Restoration Project serves as a model for nature-based solutions that effectively address climate change mitigation and adaptation while ensuring equitable participation and benefits for local communities. By restoring critical coastal ecosystems, engaging local stakeholders, and adhering to rigorous scientific standards, this project demonstrates how ocean-based approaches can significantly contribute to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement in a sustainable and equitable manner.