ACTIVITY
Mangrove Eco-system being a very important human welfare system of tropical and sub-tropical world needs utter attention of mankind. CWS serve for the cause of conservation and became interested in saving some species of mangroves from Sundarban which were getting rare, endangered and critically endangered. Accordingly CWS decided to go for ex-situ conservation in a suitable locality. The map of Indian Sundarban used to show a block of vacant area measuring approx 10 Hectare right at the central position called Jharkhali, a mud flat tidal land on the banks of river Herobhanga where hydrological parameters are optimum for most of the mangrove species. The thought of creation of a Mangrove Ecological Garden at Jharkhali, Sundarban was materialized in 1998 through the good offices of Department of Environment, Govt of West Bengal. The land was provided by Sundarban Development Board of Govt of West Bengal. CWS implemented the project of ex-situ conservation of most of the mangrove species found in the inter tidal Sundarban. Special attention was poised on selecting the rare, endangered and endemic species. Currently, after the ex-situ, Jharkhali Mangrove Ecological Garden (JMEG) has been shaped in the form of a nature synchronous mangrove vegetation which occasionally attracts straying tiger but also troupe of Rhesus Monkey regularly. Now, JMEG is a unique genetic repository of mangroves. Display boards interpret the mangrove eco-system with Tiger and Crocodile at the apex of terrestrial and aquatic food chain. Every plant that has been established ex-situ bears the signboard of scientific and local name. This apart, display boards on medicinal properties of inter tidal mangrove species have been placed showing information on local use. The Garden serves as an Eco-tourism destination for eco-tourists as well as institutes, universities and researchers.
JMEG received the international attention from the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), London. In 2004 IIN-India through National Botanic Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow and BGCI funded for upgradation and maintenance of the Garden. The fund provided by HSBC. In 2009 Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt of India, funded for the improvement of the infrastructure of the Garden.
CWS is also doing the job of Mid-winter Water Fowl Census of Migratory Birds during the last 15 years in some of the major wetlands of West Bengal and census reports are sent to Bombay Natural History Society (BHNS).
People’s participation is very important for all sorts of natural conservation. In view of that CWS distributes among the villagers fruit, fuel wood, fodder and high value wood saplings. There is no doubt that the support and cooperation from the local people enable CWS to create & maintain this Mangrove Ecological Garden at Jharkhali, Sundarban.
CWS also constructed a primary school at Jharkhali, Tridibnagar, for spreading the education among the children in the area. The name of the school is “Prothom Alo” (First Light) and distributes educational aids to the students.
CWS also organizes awareness campaigns and quiz contests on ‘Nature & Environment’ in the local schools/villages to educate them about the importance of nature & environment on all forms of life and particularly the importance of conservation of Mangroves for the their life and livelihood.
A book on “Sundarban Mangals” having 72 valuable articles on all aspects of Sundarbans has been published in 1999 by the Society through M/s Naya Prakashan publisher, Kolkata. The knowledge updation has been made through a Workshop in the year 2001 held on the Sundarban Day. The Workshop was attended by nearly 50 accredited Mangrove Scientists and a short proceedings have also come out in collaboration with Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, Zilla Parishad 24 Parganas (South).
Eco-Tours
CWS arrange economic Eco-Tours on Indian Sunderbans for students of institutions, universities, schools, corporate houses from Kolkata to Kolkata, Gadkhali to Gadkhali, Jharkhali to Jharkhali for 1 Day/2D 1N/ 3D 2N, at a very reasonable cost.CWS FUTURE PLANS
1. Construction of a T-shape Cat-walk approximately 300 Mtr long inside the Eco-garden along with a three storied watch tower for overview of the entire 10 Hectare Eco-garden for the researchers, students & tourists visiting this unique Mangrove Eco-garden. The cat walk , which was constructed earlier in 2004 got totally damaged after the devastating natural calamity called “Aila” swept Sundarban in May 2009.
2. Apart from Mangrove Nursery, preparation of additional nursery beds for fodder, fuel and value wood saplings for local distribution.
3. Replacement of old signboards covering the Scientific and Local names of the individual mangrove species, Medicinal Value of different mangrove species and birds & animals of Sunderban.
4. Construction of a site office for better maintenance of the Eco-garden, Seed Godown and a small Museum on entire mangrove eco-system.
The aforesaid recommendations/suggestions if materialize will substantially improve the awareness building process on Mangrove Eco-system among the villagers and eco-tourists as well as regeneration of mangroves which is very important.