Ecology

Saving the fragile embankment of Sunderban through Mangrove restoration

A total of 3500 km earthen, age old embankment along the fringe of 54 inhabited islands of Sunderban, protects the people and their land from entering of saline water everyday at two high tides. These embankments are under continuous threat of eroding by the rivers, stroms and surges. The project of mangrove retoration in Dulki village to save the fragile embankments was successfully done in collaboration with Forest Department, West Bengal.

Flood Impact Assessment 2000

It was a one year collaborative project with KMDA funded by UNICEF. The aim of the project was to assess the after effect of flood and to suggest damage control measures.

Distribution of necessary gears for the forest guards in West Bengal, Funded by WTI

The Society in collaboration with Wildlife Trust of India, distributed necessary gears like waterproof shoes, rain coats and anti-malarial tablets among Forest guards deployed all over Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary in Orissa and also helped the Department by providing them with type writer machines and bi-cycles.

Nature Environment & Wildlife Society

ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT:

Projects Completed :


1. 'Impact assesment of hydroclimatic and fishing pattern changes, mangrove restoration through community involvement and awareness generation through publications-in Indian Sunderbans' NEWS is implementing this project, funded by British Deputy High Commission , Kolkata. It was inaugurated formally by British High Commissioner – Sir Richard Stagg on 10 th February, 2008 in the Mathurakhand village of Sunderban . He was accompanied by his wife Ms Arabella Stagg & Mr Simon Wilson , the Deputy High Commissioner. The project objectives :- a. Scientific Study on hydrological parameters like salinity, ph level, turbidity, DO level ,Sulphate-phosphate-heavy metals etc & tidal amplitude with data of last thirty years in order to assess the impact of climate change in this region as well as study on changing diversity of phytoplankton, thinning of molluscan shells, tidal amplitude , carbon sequestering capacity of certain dominant mangrove species of the region etc. (click here for pdf report-link to be given) b. Mangrove afforestation over half a square kilometre area covering the embankments of Mathurakhand and Amlamethi in Bali island under Sunderban Tiger Reserve .Thrust is on maintaining the nursery in the village involving villagers esp women so that the expenses related to the buying and maintenance of saplings of around 4,00,000 saplings benefits them. Necessary training by resource persons will be provided by NEWS. The workplan is prepared by consulting Mangrove experts & integrating it with traditional knowledge. c. Awareness generation among the villagers esp school children to understand the importance of the mangroves with respect to climate change .Conduct regular meetings with different stakeholders , hold Audio visual presentations ,arrange visit for school children to jungles and creeks of Sunderbans to understand the typical terrain, hold talks with publications , booklets , posters. d. Bring out a documentation of the project in the form of a film so that it can be easily shared with stakeholders of other villages and duplicated elsewhere as a model. 2. Project - Urban and Rural Environmental Health The project involves : Assessment of Health impact of Kolkata’s Air pollution on a cross-sectional population of high risk groups. Study protocols include Lung function test by spirometry, questionnaire survey by validated, structured questionnaire for respiratory symptoms. Assessment of Health impact of indoor air pollution from burning wood, dung cake, crop wastes during household cooking in Jharkhali area in Sunderban. Funded by corporate sectors 3.IMAPCT OF INDOOR AIR POLLUTION FROM BIOMASS FUEL BURNING ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND NEURO BEHAVIOURIAL SYMPTONS OF PRE MENOPAUSAL WOMEN IN RURAL INDIA Atleast 1Billion people in developing nations such as India uses biomass fuel which is cheap and easily available,for daily householdactivities like cooking room heating etc is responsible for very high level of indoor air pollution.The long time exposure in such envioronment could have tailing effects both on the physical and mental help. A comprehensive study on village women has been done by NEWS with the support of World Health Organisation(WHO)to find out 'How' and to 'what extent' indoor air poluttion is causing chronic harm on reproductive health and neuro behaviourial pattern of pre menapausal women in rural South Bengal.(for reports pdf link)
Saving the fragile embankment of Sunderban through Mangrove restoration A total of 3500 km earthen, age old embankment along the fringe of 54 inhabited islands of Sunderban, protects the people and their land from entering of saline water everyday at two high tides. These embankments are under continuous threat of eroding by the rivers, stroms and surges. The project of mangrove retoration in Dulki village to save the fragile embankments was successfully done in collaboration with Forest Department, West Bengal. Flood Impact Assessment 2000 It was a one year collaborative project with KMDA funded by UNICEF. The aim of the project was to assess the after effect of flood and to suggest damage control measures. Distribution of necessary gears for the forest guards in West Bengal, Funded by WTI The Society in collaboration with Wildlife Trust of India, distributed necessary gears like waterproof shoes, rain coats and anti-malarial tablets among Forest guards deployed all over Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary in Orissa and also helped the Department by providing them with type writer machines and bi-cycles. Monitoring of project in Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary, Sponsored by WWF India. The Society was entrusted with the job to assess the work done against the fund disbursed by World Wide Fund (WWF) India to Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary. Study of selected wetlands - Funded by International Development Agencies. It was a one year IDA assisted project. The principal jobs were monitoring of water quality, study of waterfowls and transfer of technology of identification of waterfowls to 36 forest officials in different districts of West Bengal. Identification of selected wetlands from the angle of bio-diversity in West Bengal, sponsored by Salim Ali Center for Ornithology (SACON). The Society carried out a project for identifying different wetlands from an angle of bio-diversity. Aquatic animals,especially fish were collected, preserved and sent to SACON for identification and their importance in the wetland structure was determined . Participated in Wetland conservation network, delegated by Department of Forest, west Bengal It was a short term project where the Society was engaged in identifying important wetlands from the point of bio-diversity especially waterfowls .
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