Villagers have seen how parts of Kendrapara district were saved during super cyclone For Niranjan Swain, a 62-year-old farmer of Badakota village of Odisha’s Kendrapara district, growing crops is just as important as making a ritualistic patrolling around a 25-acre patch of land, where he and his fellow villagers are creating a mangrove forest – a bio-shield against sea erosion. The land, which used to be a grazing ground for domestic animals of village, is now dotted with a variety of mangrove plantlets. Some mangrove plantlets have even grown five to six-foot tall. By the time the patch grows into a dense forest, Swain may be confined to his house due to his old age. “I am not concerned if I would stay alive to enjoy the benefit of mangrove forest. But it is certain that my successors will not have to shift as I did on account of sea erosion,” he said. Swain, along with many fellow villagers, has relocated themselves from nearby Khirakota village – which was badly hit by sea erosion – to Badakota many years ago. “When the creation of a mangrove forest around the village was mooted, not many villagers were convinced. As I myself experienced the ordeal of displacement, no second thought crossed my mind and I instantly involved myself in the unique effort. Gradually, all villagers joined in,” he said. For villagers, it was not easy to part with wasteland, a common property resource, which is very scarce in this coastal region. However, volunteers of Action for Protection of Wild Animals (APOWA), a voluntary organization that works on mangrove conservation, kept counselling villagers continuously. Their efforts yielded result. Ever since villagers plunged into conservation efforts, there has been no looking back. They approached the district administration and the Forest department for taking up plantation on wasteland. They tediously collect mangrove seeds from different parts of Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts and develop plantlets in nursery. Villagers guard the forest patch on rotation basis. “Creation of mangrove forest sounds weird as it does not give immediate benefits, but villagers are ready for conservation efforts. They had seen how parts of Kendrapara were saved when mangrove forest acted as bio-shield during super cyclone. Besides, they helplessly witness how tidal wave has been eroding the land mass near their village. They have realized importance of mangrove conservation,” said Bijay Kumar Kabi, Director of APOWA. Mr. Kabi pointed out that, “as the 25-acre-patch is not infringed by domestic animals, villagers have started harvesting quality fodder. We hope that the message from Badakota village would spread to other parts at a time when the treasure of mangrove forests is rapidly depleting.” Villagers have formed ‘Village Mangrove Council’ to coordinate protection efforts. They had seen how parts of Kendrapara were saved when mangrove forest acted as bio-shield during super cyclone