Challenge

Cuddalore district covers an area of 3,678 km2. The Pennayar River runs north of the town, while the Gadilam River runs across it. The coastal stretch of Cuddalore extends from Gadilam estuary in the north to Pichavaram mangroves in the south, a total length of 42 km along the Bay of Bengal. This region experiences severe tropical cyclones during the northeast monsoon (October through December), and nearly 60 cyclonic storms have been reported in the past century (Indian Meteorology Department (IMD) eAtlas 2011). Large parts of this coastal zone are low-lying with a gentle slope, resulting in wide inundation areas, thus increasing the vulnerability of the region. Cuddalore town has been severely damaged by consecutive cyclones in the last decade.

Conservation Actions

• Restore a bioshield of mangroves along the Gadilam river mouth in Devanampattinam village, adjacent to Cuddalore town to strengthen protection from the impacts of erosion, sea level rise and storms.
• Establish mangrove conservation committees and design sustainable protection and governance mechanisms and monitoring protocols for natural coastal resources in the areas.
• Using RS/GIS, assess the carbon stocks of existing and restored mangroves.

Impacts

• 10 hectares of degraded mangroves are restored and rehabilitated by 50 women from 5 Self Help Groups (SHGs), increasing the width of the existing mangroves by at least 5 to 10% to provide a thick enough bioshield for coastal protection.
• At least 100 men and 150 women are actively engaged in deciding and acting on sustainable livelihood and biodiversity conservation through the formation of a village institution in Devanampattinam.
• District administration and other key stakeholders are engaged to align mangrove protection with development plans for Cuddalore town.

Progress

MSSRF is working with the District Administration in Cuddalore for permissions to plant mangroves on the identified land. 25,000 saplings are being grown in a mangrove nursery, they will be transplanted in the identified sites around the estuary during the monsoons.