Come a cyclone or flood, the residents of this coastal village grabbed their bags and turned into camp. This should change within a decade due to the mangrove protection efforts of village women under the banner of the Paryavaran Sanrakshan Ababiyan Trust
By Rakhi Ghosh
Nalini Kandi (45) now understands the importance of the mangrove forest, which protects her village from Jhadling from cyclonic storms and floods. She reminded of the days before Cyclone Fani’s landing from 2019, she said: ‘The IMD [Indian Meteorological Department] A warning revealed that Cyclone Fani would land near our village. We panic, but basic and essential objects, including important documents, certificates, money, ornaments and medication, in an aluminum case and clothing in one bundle and went to a state school. ‘
When the men’s men returned the next day, they found that the severity of the cyclone near Jhadling and some other neighboring villages was less than expected. The cyclone storm had landed in Balukhanda, 49 km from Jhadling. “We were told that the 1.5 km dense mangrove forest saved us from the heaviness of the storm,” said Nalini.
Source: Rakhi Ghosh, 101 Reporters
Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees and shrubs that typically occur in muzzle and tidal regions. They grow in areas where fresh water and salt water meet and in which the floor is swampy.
“Since childhood we have been experiencing cyclonic storms, of which the 1999 Super Cyclone from 2013 and Fani from 2019 were most devastating. If the administration spends a warning, we rush to school to protect ourselves. fully goes back, ”said Mamina Kandi (39). In short, life comes to a standstill for the residents of almost 80 villages, including Jhadling, in the Astaranga block during cyclone storms and their consequences.
Source: Rakhi Ghosh, 101 Reporters
The villagers had not thought about protecting mangroves to act as a sign against cyclonic storms until Soumya Ranjan Biswal, a marine turtle and a mangrove protector from the Astaranga block, sensitized them on this topic. Although Odisha Paryavaran Sanrakshan Abbrei Habiyan Trust has been working on the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle nature conservation project for more than a decade, we found that we would benefit the vulnerable community of this coastal village if we can protect the mangrove forest around Jhadling Panchayat. We also thought of including women to lead the nature conservation initiative, ”said Biswal, the founder of the trust.
“When I spanned Oliveenridleys in Devi River mouth, I found that mangrove forests that were destroyed in many places to destroy the Astaranga block. So I started creating children’s beds for the plantation of Mangroven -Strunglings together with a few young people in my homeland Gundalba, a neighboring village of Jhadling. We went early in the morning and returned late in the evening. One day in 2023 I saw five women who collected firewood from the mangroves. I tried to convince them of the importance of mangrove forests and how they would be destroyed if they constantly collected wood. ‘
Source: Rakhi Ghosh, 101 Reporters
The good thing was that he managed to convince them, so they stopped collecting firewood from mangroves. In 2023, Biswal started the Women for Mangroves initiative to reverse the damage that was unknowingly caused by the larger mango ecosystem. The village women initially hesitated to join, but he brought them to his training center in Astaranga, where he offered school children and villagers environmental education and the importance of mangrove forests and how they work as a sign against cyclonic storms and floods.
Source: Rakhi Ghosh, 101 Reporters
“After participating in the training, we were ready to join the initiative,” said Nayana Kandi (49), now a member of the Women for Mangroves initiative. Initially, five women in the group joined and after completing the household work went to the mangrove forest every morning to create their maintenance work.
“Since this work is not as easy as it sounds, we approached a few men in our village to join us,” said Ranjulata Kandi (45) and added: “They take us on board and when we go into the thick forest.
The mangrove protection project that started informally has grown over time. The number of participating women has increased to 25. Seven fishermen are also involved in the efforts. In two years, over 22,000 mangrove seedlings were planted. The participants collect seeds from the river bank when water goes back at low tide and keep them to germinate. Then sow the sprouted seeds in fenced kindergartens. Men help them in this work.
The women receive 250 RS a day for the four -hour conservation efforts, which they take three to four days of a week, mainly at low tide. Paryavaran Sanrakshan Abbey Trust pays you with the financing support of billions in trees, an initiative by Subroto Chatterjee; Jagrut Odisha, one in Cuttack based in Cuttack based in social welfare organizations; Govind Tripathy Smruti Parishad; Philanthropes; and individual well -wishers. It has not yet received government support.
Women’s members have indigenous knowledge of seed selection. You know which seeds will grow in what type of soil. “We know that indigenous species Rai, Sinduka, Kaliachua, Bandari and Keruan are growing well in swampy areas. Now we are more interested in understanding which other varieties are available in our mangrove forests and where they will grow well,” explains Nalini.
Kindrada District, Notow, Notha. The square meter (81%) (819 km²)) is a Jagatsirh (8.39 km² km) (4.82 km²) and Puri (0.74 km²).
When it was predicted that Cyclone Dana landed near Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Hafen, people feared that they were destroying their villages. But the dense mangrove cover of Kendrapada contributed to minimizing the effects.
Bikash Ranjan Dash, chief conservator of Forest (Wildlife), Odisha State Forest Department, told 101 reporters that mangrove forests act as a shield against cyclone storms, but some people have built illegal gheris [encroachments] For shrimp fishing in Kendrapada. ‘The department took measures against these interventions and introduced plantation trips with local support. It will offer living options, especially for women. ‘
Before they started nature conservation efforts, the women from Jhadling start crabs from the mangroves and sold them to local dealers. Each woman collected 18 to 20 crabs in three to four days, which brought in 300 to 500 rupees. They also collected firewood for cooking from the mangroves.
“Our husbands work in agricultural areas and sometimes go to the nearby cities to work as workers. To support our families financially, we caught crabs … The work was sometimes dangerous. The chances of getting a crab bit was high if you were a little careless. There were no other work in our village, so we continue until the nature conservation project creates new possibilities for us,” said Sulochana Kandi, “said Sulochana Kandi,” said Sulochana Kandi, “said Sulochana Kandi,” said Sulochana Kandi, ” (49).
“We no longer catch crabs; Rather, we devote our time of maintenance work, Nalini radiates. The wages that they receive is enough to support the family financially. They refer to firewood from the neighborhood, instead of being dependent on the mangrove forests.” We deal with plantation work to protect the villages along the coastal areas of Astaranga in the future. Our children don’t have to run when there is a cyclone warning, Mamina hoped.
Source: Rakhi Ghosh, 101 Reporters
When asked about the support of the Ministry of Forestry, “they appreciate and encourage our mango initiative.” No Puri Forest Division civil servant agreed to talk about them Women’s effort In Jhadling, the claim that only the main conservator of the forests or another manager should speak from the Bhubaneswar office.
The result of this nature conservation work is probably visible in another 10 years, as the growth of mangrove plants last three to five years.
Rakhi Ghosh is a freelance journalist and member of 101 reportersA Pan-India network of basic reporters.
101 Reporters is a Pan-India network of basic reporters that emerges unheard of stories from the hinterland.