Community based adaptation to super cyclone

A Case Study of Six Village Communities and Local CBO, West Bengal, India

Authors: Neela Mukherjee and Mudhumita Parihari

This document details the efforts of local communities in West Bengal who are adapting to Alia. Alia is the name given to a violent cyclonic super-storm with wind speed at 100 to 110 KMPH, accompanied with incessant rain.

A few eastern districts of West Bengal and Orissa in India and parts of Bangladesh have always been affected with alia during monsoons; however in changing climate, these storms have intensified and started occurring in summer, much before monsoons. Despite relief measures, the disaster takes heavy toll on people’s lives and livelihood, causing them loss of assets and mental agony which are not easily overcome.

The adaptation measure was designed after a devastating alia in May 2009 which affected at least 110,000 people in the state. 

Adaptation strategy

The focus of this program was Jhargram block of Paschim Midnapur district which is home to many ethnic indigenous tribes. The area fares badly on social indicators of development due to poor governance and lack of infrastructure facilities. It is also a drought prone area, which has in recent times witnessed incessant tree felling in its adjoining coastal areas. 

Sal Piyali Unnayan Dal is a community based organization which works through Self Help Groups and volunteers in 15 villages in two blocks of the district, inhabited by Sabar lodha, a stigmatized primitive tribal group.

In June 2009 the organization held several consultative meetings in villages to discuss the need for adaptation to alia. The strategy endorsed by people of six villages in the region was to construct a tree wall which will not only moderate future storms, but also benefit local community by livelihood diversification (such as collection of NTFPs from the trees). Everyday, before starting their day, villagers would dig a few pits near their village boundaries. The aim was to plant at least 100 saplings in even and odd rows to provide maximum coverage in terms of their crowns from winds with strong velocity and heavy rains. Thereafter, a hedge of local creepers and plants (like bamboo, kalmi, palm leaves) were set up as boundary walls to protect young saplings.

Villagers committed themselves to maintain and protect saplings. Everybody with some time to spare, including men, women and children participated according to their respective strengths. Some expenses, like transportation cost for saplings, were raised from voluntary contributions. Saplings were collected for free from the forest department and the local panchayat office nurseries who were distributing it free to celebrate forestry week. The saplings planted were mainly of Sal, Mahogany, Segun, Sesum, Eucalyptus and Acacia. Trees like Sal and Mahogany are strong and would resist windbreak, while Sal and Sesum would contribute to livelihood options of poor.

Success and challenges

Some challenges were faced as villagers did not have a real choice in selecting tree varieties as they were distributed by the forest department and local Panchayats. It was later suggested that probably fruit bearing trees would have been more appropriate to promote livelihoods and also to discourage their future felling. 

About 20% saplings from one village and 5% from the remaining 5 villages got damaged or dried up. Of these, Mahogany and Segun were higher in number as they require greater care and more conducive soil and water conditions. In coming year, the CBO plans to dig pits in advance and treat the soil for ants and termites before new planting to strengthen the tree wall.

Despite challenges, this small experiment has demonstrated that local communities understand and appreciate the adaptation needs of climate change and are ready to work towards it when helped with guidance and motivation. This was the first instance in the selected villages where community action was undertaken to plant trees. It also demonstrates the significance of the role of CBOs to facilitate such processes and help villagers plan long term adaptation.

Source: Eldis, November 16, 2009