24/08/2026
The Sundarbans, the world’s largest contiguous mangrove ecosystem, is a vital ecological and economic landscape that supports millions of people across coastal Bangladesh. Mangroves act as natural barriers against cyclones, storm surges, and coastal erosion, while sustaining fisheries, biodiversity, and local livelihoods. The ecosystem is also central to the food security and blue economy of the region, as mangrove creeks and estuaries serve as critical breeding and nursery grounds for fish, shrimp, and crab populations that support coastal communities.
However, increasing climate pressures, salinity intrusion, unsustainable resource use, and conversion of mangrove areas to aquaculture and other land uses have led to degradation and fragmentation of mangrove habitats. This has direct consequences for coastal resilience, declining fish stocks, and livelihood security. Large-scale mangrove restoration programmes often struggle with limited community ownership and weak monitoring, resulting in poor survival rates. A community-based micro-restoration approach provides a more sustainable alternative by focusing on small, manageable restoration clusters that are locally managed and maintained.
The Community-Based Mangrove Micro-Restoration initiative implementing by DORP in Sharankhola Upazila of Bagerhat District with support from Wetlands International under Wetlands for Resilience (W4R) Project proposes to establish small restoration plots of 0.5–1 acre clusters, managed by local communities in vulnerable coastal zones of the Sundarbans. By combining natural regeneration, youth-led restoration activities, and digital monitoring systems, the initiative seeks to create a scalable model for restoring mangrove ecosystems while strengthening food security, supporting blue economy livelihoods, and enhancing coastal resilience.
