The Hindu Business Line : $60,000 British aid for mangrove project in Sundarbans

Sundarbans (W. Bengal), Feb 11 The British Government is providing an assistance of $60,000 for a project in the Sundarbans that aims to not only create awareness about the threat of climate change in the area but also involves a mass mangrove plantation programme that is expected to be replicated as a successful model elsewhere.

The British High Commissioner in India, Sir Richard Stagg, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, Mr Simon Wilson, and several environmental experts visited the project site at Mathurakhand, Bali Islands, Sundarbans, on Sunday.

According to environmental experts, the project aims to create awareness about the threat of climate change in the Sundarbans and the hinterland that the delta protects, both in India and Bangladesh.

Coastal flooding in the region results in massive human migration and economic chaos. The project, which involves a mangrove plantation programme over a 6 km stretch, will be promoted as a sustainable model that can be replicated in other parts of India and in other countries.

Threat in climate change

The experts said that nearly 2,000 km of the 3,600 km shoreline in the Sundarbans are today without the necessary mangrove cover or any other manmade embankment support.

According to projections, if the current level of global warming continues and the sea level continues to rise, it will not be just the Sundarbans but an area 100 km into the hinterland – including Kolkata – that will be submerged within the next 50 years.

Sir Richard told newspersons that the British government was very concerned about the climate change and the threat to the environment.

“We are very active all around the world to promote projects to fight climate change and save the earth’s environment. Our number one priority is to promote a low-carbon, high-growth global economy. Simply put, we want the world to grow the green way. And we want governments around the world to take urgent steps to avoid the disastrous consequences of global warning”, he said.

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