India Canopy Tree Project bannner image of a person planting a tree

Sundarbans, India

Project Summary

Mangroves are crucial coastal ecosystems that protect coastlines from erosion and flooding. They serve as vital nurseries for marine life, filter pollutants to maintain water quality, and store up to four times more carbon than tropical rainforests. Degradation of The Sundarbans ecosystem, now being hastened by global warming, has resulted in huge losses of mangrove cover.

Since 2023, EARTHDAY.ORG has planted over three million mangroves in the Sundarbans and plans to plant 3 million more. This project supports the community – providing natural resilience to a disaster-prone region, biodiversity conservation, economic stimulus for local workers, and potential for carbon sequestration at scale.

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November through March

Planting period

3 million

Number of trees to be planted

Active

Status

Region

The Sundarbans riverine estuaries, a UN world heritage site and a haven for diverse flora and fauna, is endangered by rising sea levels, and frequent cyclones. Storms are threatening the lives of the indigenous population.

The Indian part of Sundarbans ecosystem consists of 102 islands, 54 of which are inhabited and the other 48 forested. The inhabited islands are protected by a centuries old system of ring embankments extending for over 3500 km in length. With 4.5 million people living in the Sundarbans, this project will ultimately save lives.

Community

To carry out this project, trained project monitors, local scientists and national forestry officials are coordinating with village councils, local leaders and community members.

Mangroves offer life-saving protection against flooding. Villagers benefit from ongoing education on mangroves and how they impact fisheries and agriculture. Rather than planting seedlings, our project creates employment by growing saplings in greenhouses for six months, replacing by hand those that don't survive. Mangrove habitat shelters fish that thrive in the warm shallow waters, supporting local fisherman and adding both food and income to local communities.</b

Octopus

Octopus species critically important to the health of ocean ecosystems live in India’s shallow coastal waters. While fauna such as the Royal Bengal Tiger are revered, local knowledge of the importance of octopi to ecosystems is not well developed.

Our India office provides community-based conservation and resource management education that reduces environmental risk and supports local and global climate resiliency. In addition to mangrove restoration, this project supports biodiversity awareness and fosters octopi survival.

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Projects

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