Projects of the
Integrated Village Development Trust

The coast of Orissa is particularly prone to serious cyclone, exacerbated by climate change. The best protection for the people in the area is planting mangrove and other trees.

Run by our Indian partner, CHALE CHALO, our Community-based Mangrove Regeneration Project in Kendrapara has run for four years, and has four aspects to its work:
• planting trees (over 150,000 in four years), both mangrove and fruit-bearing species;
• environmental education for the community and for schoolchildren – we have over 60 Eco-clubs in the area;
• improving the financial situation of vulnerable members of the community through micro-finance and income- generation projects;
• working with government departments and other social and environmental organisations in the area.

We have never seen a project which has so captured the imagination of the local people and become part of their lives so quickly. We plan for this work to continue as long as we are able to support it.