Women in Sundarbans plant mangroves after losing husbands to tigers
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In West Bengal, India, a group of women known as the “Mangrove Army” are planting mangrove trees to protect their villages and the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove delta.
Many of these women lost their husbands in tiger attacks while working in the forest. Umashankar Mondal founded the group in 2009 after Cyclone Aila devastated the region, initially bringing together around 200 women to replant damaged areas.
The women plant saplings along riverbanks, creating a natural barrier against cyclones and conserving the fragile ecosystem. Currently, approximately 600 women participate, with around 120 having experienced the loss of a husband to a tiger. Instead of wages, the Purbasha Eco-helpline Society provides them with essential household supplies like food, cooking oil, and clothing in exchange for their work. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently praised the group’s efforts in his Mann Ki Baat address.
Since 2009, the Mangrove Army has planted over 1.3 million mangrove saplings across 12 islands within the Sundarbans. While mangrove cover in the area has slightly increased, much of the growth comes from plantations like this one, and the region remains vulnerable to environmental threats.
