Over 200,000 mangrove saplings have been planted in the Sunderbans in the past 45 days as part of a drive to preserve the ecology and generate income for local women.

The fruits shed by the mangroves are washed away by the tidal water — away from land during low tide and into the land during high tide.

During high tide, more than 350 women have been collecting the fruits at the banks of two rivers — Kalindi and Raimangal — and the Durgaduani creek. The areas are spread over Hingalganj in North 24-Parganas and Gosaba in South 24-Parganas.

The fruits are taken to nurseries — under Gobindokathi, Kalitala and Gosaba village panchayats. The seeds are planted in the soil and sand mixture kept inside polythene packs.

The base with the sapling is then replanted on the riverbank. Over 150 acres of land has been allocated by two village panchayats — Gobindokathi and Gosba — for replanting the saplings.

According to government estimates, Cyclone Amphan ravaged 1,600sq km of the 4,200sq km of the Sunderbans forests.

The project by Kolkata Society for Cultural Heritage is aimed at preserving the ecology as well as generating income for people of the area.

Mangroves are known for viviparous germination where seeds germinate and develop into saplings while still attached to the parent tree. “If they get favourable conditions, they can form a colony,” said Sugata Hazra, director, School of Oceanographic Sciences, Jadavpur University.

The replantation drive started in the middle of June. “Over 800,000 fruits have been collected to date. Around 272,000 saplings have been planted,” said Sourav Mukherjee, the founder of the NGO.

The NGO requests companies and individuals to adopt a bunch of trees.

“Till now 60,000 trees have been adopted, each for Rs 50 on average,” said Arpita Mukherjee, the coordinator of the project.

Tens of thousands of people have returned to the Sunderbans from other cities because of the pandemic.

“Mangrove plantation is helping us economically and shielding the environment as well,” said Binodini Mondal, who has been working on the project.