ACCESS4ALL Group

The situation in India, particularly in the Sundarbans region of West Bengal, closely reflects the experience described in the Philippines case study on mangrove restoration. India, like the Philippines, regularly faces powerful cyclones, particularly along the Bay of Bengal coast. In recent years, cyclones such as Aila (2009), Amphan (2020), and Yaas (2021) have caused widespread flooding, embankment breaches, destruction of homes, and saltwater intrusion into farmland in the Sundarbans. Climate change appears to be making these cyclones more intense, and rising sea levels are increasing the vulnerability of low-lying delta regions. The worst impacts are felt in remote island villages where people depend heavily on fishing, small-scale farming, and forest resources. Poor households, landless laborers, and especially women are among the most affected because their livelihoods are closely tied to natural resources, and they have fewer financial buffers to recover after disasters. After major cyclones, many men migrate to cities for work, leaving women to manage households and rebuild lives in difficult conditions.

Just like in the Philippines case, mangroves in the Sundarbans play a crucial protective role. Areas with thicker mangrove cover tend to experience less damage during storms because the trees reduce the force of waves and wind. Recognizing this, the West Bengal Forest Department, along with local communities and NGOs such as WWF-India and other regional organizations, has supported mangrove plantation and restoration efforts, especially after Cyclone Amphan. Local people also cope by repairing embankments, raising the plinths of their homes, growing salt-tolerant crops, diversifying livelihoods through crab farming or small businesses, and relying on women’s self-help groups for financial support. The government provides additional backing through early warning systems, disaster relief programs, and employment schemes like MGNREGA, while NGOs and sometimes international agencies support climate adaptation projects. A key difference is that India now has relatively strong cyclone warning and evacuation systems, which have reduced loss of life, but long-term challenges like erosion and displacement remain serious in the Sundarbans. Overall, as in the Philippines, mangrove restoration in India is not just about protecting the environment-it is closely linked to livelihood security, community resilience, and hope for a safer future.