Analyzing the effects of afforestation on estuarine environment of river Subarnarekha, India using geospatial technologies and participatory appraisals.

In the Subarnarekha estuary of eastern India, deforestation remained a perpetual menace throughout the last century, thereby considerably augmenting the regional environmental vulnerability, especially in the wake of climate change-induced rise of sea levels. Like other similar areas, coastal afforestation had been widely implemented here as a prime measure of integrated coastal zone management. This study highlighted the impacts of such afforestation initiatives conducted in this area during the last 40 years by integrating geospatial information and community feedbacks. It was also a pioneering one in evaluating the level of sustainability achieved by these initiatives chiefly by analyzing their ability to attain the dual aims of environmental conservation and livelihood generation for the coastal communities. Results indicated that the detrimental effects of the continual removal of healthy mangrove and Pandanus tectorius stands could overwhelmingly be traced along the backshore areas and riverbanks. However, the scenario became better since 2008-2009 as both the dense mangroves and Casuarina plantations had experienced considerable areal increases primarily due to the renewed impetus on the Joint Forest Management and Social Forestry programs as well as regulation on shrimp aquaculture practices. Conversely, overall status of biodiversity and ecological composure remained alarmingly poor as many areas exhibited monospecific stands of Avicennia species. Accordingly, the study suggested establishment of appropriate zonal plantations based on species assemblage and utilities, bio-stabilization of coastal dunes, regulated grazing, enhanced community emancipation regarding usufruct sharing, and conflict resolution as the imperative measures for sustainable ecological restoration of this estuary.