Sustainable Mangrove Plantation Programme
As sea levels rise and cyclones intensify in the Bay of Bengal, Kolkata and its deltaic fringes remain exposed. With increasing salinity, certain mangrove species may disappear entirely. Satellite images of the Indian Sundarbans confirm the slow collapse of this natural barrier.
Breathing Roots is working to restore this ancient line of defence — not only for the Sundarbans, but for Bengal’s heritage and future.
We invite your support to grow our Green Wall — one sapling, one village, one song at a time.
Key Highlights (2020–2024)
- Nurtured over 9.85 lakh mangrove saplings, creating a 6-kilometre-long living Green Wall along the riverbanks of Kalindi and Raimangal.
- Extended plantation to the Hooghly riverbank near the Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah.
- Engaged 450+ families, prioritising women-led nursery work and youth from affected villages.
Plantation Process
Phase 1: Seed Collection, Germination & Nursery Care
Primarily led by women, this phase focuses on the careful collection of indigenous seeds, using local ecological knowledge to select resilient species. Seeds are germinated in uthon (home-based) nurseries so that care, income, and knowledge remain rooted in the community.
Over 12 native mangrove species are cultivated — including Sundari, Bain, Keora, Garan and Gol — ensuring biodiversity and adaptation to varied salinity zones.
Phase 2 & 3: Transplantation, Protection & Care
Saplings are transplanted along vulnerable embankments with trenching for silt retention, followed by protective fencing and a three-year watch-and-ward programme to ensure survival beyond cattle grazing height and human disturbance.
Ecological & Economic Goals
- Strengthen embankments and prevent soil erosion.
- Reduce salinity intrusion and restore local biodiversity.
- Offer climate jobs and local income opportunities — including annual returns of ₹6,000–8,000 per family from fruit-yielding Keora trees.
- Reduce climate migration and support carbon sequestration — mangroves can absorb 4× more CO₂ than many other tree species.
Integrated Culture: Bon Bibi & Dakshin Ray Festival
A three-day annual folk festival accompanies each plantation cycle, blending ecological restoration with cultural revival.
- Raises conservation awareness among local and visiting audiences
- Engages folk artists, youth and migrant returnees in climate dialogue
- Creates a spiritual and emotional link between people and their mangrove guardians
Learn more about the festival: The Bon Bibi & Dakshin Ray Festival 2026
By supporting this programme, you help rebuild the living shield that stands between millions of people and the rising sea.