CALCUTTA WILDLIFE SOCIETY 16/7 DOVER LANE, FLAT NO. C-2/34 (1st
FLOOR), KOLKATA
700 029, WEST BENGAL
Project Title
Renovation
and maintenance of Mangrove Eco-
garden at Jharkhali
Duration
Total
Grant
(INR in Lakhs)
Project
Leader(s)
Shri.
G.S. Mandal
1
Year
2.75
Summary
of Aims/
Objectives of the Project
The
mangrove Eco- garden is located at the entry point to the
heart of Sunderbans , the largest contiguous mangrove reserve
of the world. The place is to be reached from Kolkota by
road up to Basanti (90 KM from Kolkata). A small creek is
to be crossed by a ferry, which takes about 5 minutes, and
then taxi service is available up to the site located 25
km from Basanti. The area of the Eco-garden is 10 hectares
and currently Calcutta Wildlife Society is somehow maintaining
the same. The garden houses most of the inter tidal species
available in Indian Sunderbans.
The
Jharkhali Island is also the home of the rare mangrove
climber, Acanthus volubilis. The Eco-garden maintains
some rare mangroves like Kandalia candal, Bruguiera parviflora,
Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea, Sonneratia caseolaris, Nypa
fruticans ,Aglaia cucullata and some rare back mangals.
The present project aims at ex situ conservation of 20
selected mangrove species at Jharkhali Eco-garden and
at undertaking education and awareness programme and facilitating
in situ conservation of the mangrove ecosystem at Jhakhali
Island and vicinity.
The
specific aims & objectives of the project are:
Enrichment
of the Mangrove Ecological Park at Jharkhali with the
mangroves of both Sundarban and elsewhere.
Creation
of a special Mangrove Medicinal Plant Arboratum with
proper display.
Generating
awareness on necessity on preservation of rare and endangered
Mangrove Plants.
Maintenance
of Herbarium of all the inter-tidal species of Sundarbans.
Arrangements
for interpretation facilities on identification, use
and ecology of various Mangals of Indian Sundarbans.
Imparting
educational inputs to the students/teachers/scholars
of various Institutes, Schools and Universities.
Creation of facilities for the study of inter-tidal
mangals of Sundarbans for the interested foreigners
by way of developing cat-walks.
Creating
in-situ mangrove conservation linkages for the learners.
Proper
display of materials showing local name, latin name,
uses etc.
Expected Outcome
Renovation
and Enrichment of the Mangrove Eco-garden at Jharkhali
Ex situ conservation of 20 mangrove species at Jkarkhali
Mangrove eco-garden
Education
& awareness campaigns based on mangrove ecosystems
and the species that they harbor for the benefit of
students, teachers, local people and other interested
target groups. Booklets on importance of mangrove eco-system
such as its function as a sink for Kolkota sewage and
as a buffer towards annual high-gales for Kolkota and
suburbs, etc.will be prepared and published. Brochures
highlighting uniqueness of Sunderban mangals will also
be published. The Booklets will also cover such other
key themes as the economic benefits of both in situ
and ex situ conservation, marketable and non-marketable
values of the mangrove diversity, optimum utilization
for sustainable management of the mangals of Sunderbans,etc.
The
ex stu collections at Jharkhali Mangrove eco-garden
will be utilized for further integrated conservation
programmes to be undertaken jointly with the Deptt.
Of Forests and Wildlife, Govt. of West Bengal.
Supported
by
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