In the western Indian state of Maharashtra, the village of Khardi in Palghar district has long depended on its mangroves for fishing, farming, and collecting shellfish. Generations of families have linked their identity and livelihoods to these coastal forests, which silently maintained the ecological balance of the area.
When mangroves began disappearing, saltwater intruded inland, turning farmland on nearby Jhow Island infertile and threatening the community’s way of life. Recognizing the need to restore this balance, the village joined a major conservation effort in 2021 under the Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities (ECRICC) project, led by the Maharashtra Forest Department with support from the Green Climate Fund and UNDP India. Over 20 hectares of degraded land were selected for restoration.
The restoration process involved careful mapping of the degraded areas, carving feeder channels to reintroduce tidal water, and planting three species of mangroves—Ceriops tagal, Rhizophora mucronata, and Bruguiera cylindrica—at a spacing of 1.5 metres to maintain biodiversity. The project also created jobs for 45 people, mainly from nearby tribal communities, highlighting the socio-economic benefits alongside environmental recovery.
Community involvement was key to the project’s success. Farmers living near the restoration sites helped protect the young plants from grazing livestock, gradually becoming active custodians of the mangrove forests. Santosh and Devyani Gharat, a local farmer couple, took on the responsibility of monitoring and nurturing the restored forest, taking pride in seeing lush green mangroves flourish where barren land once stretched.
Women in the village, like Ruchita Gharat, have embraced the restored forests as a source of livelihood. They are harvesting meswak oil, which has traditional household uses, and exploring crab farming and fish-based products. The project has strengthened local awareness about the ecological and economic importance of mangroves, helping the younger generation connect with nature while sustaining livelihoods.
Today, the restored mangroves in Khardi stand as a living symbol of resilience. Their roots hold the soil, their leaves catch the sunlight, and their presence restores the rhythm of life for the village, reflecting the broader goals of the ECRICC project to protect India’s coastlines and support coastal communities in adapting to climate change.
