Kolkata, July 27 -- The state Tourism department is planning to launch the 'One Traveller One Mangrove' programme in the Sundarbans, transforming every visitor into an active conservation partner.
State Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh said that tourists visiting the Sundarbans will be encouraged to plant a mangrove sapling as part of their travel experience. They will also receive a Certificate of Appreciation recognising their personal contribution towards climate resilience, ecosystem restoration and the Blue Carbon Economy.
"Turning mangrove restoration into an active visitor experience allows every traveller to forge a special bond with the region," said Ghosh.
The move assumes significance as Darjeeling and the Sundarbans have been proposed as West Bengal's flagship destinations under the Government of India's 'One State, One Global Destination' initiative.
"The Sundarbans represents one of the world's most valuable ecological assets. Mangroves are nature's most effective carbon sinks, storing carbon beneath the soil for thousands of years-or even indefinitely if left undisturbed-and serving as our first line of defence against tropical cyclones, coastal erosion and saline intrusion," Ghosh said, adding that protecting these ecosystems lies at the heart of the Blue Carbon Economy. Addressing a programme organised to commemorate World Mangrove Day 2026, organised by the Tourism department in association with the South 24-Parganas district administration, Ghosh said the state proposes to prepare a holistic plan integrating tourism infrastructure, inland water transport, road connectivity and conservation efforts without compromising the fragile ecosystem.
The plan will involve the Sundarban Affairs, Forest, Fisheries and Transport departments, along with the district administration.
Alongside improving road connectivity to the Sundarbans, the Tourism department, in collaboration with the Transport Department, plans to develop seamless water transport links connecting Kolkata directly to the Sundarbans. This includes leveraging National Waterway-1 (NW-1) to promote an immersive, eco-friendly RiverLife tourism experience. Additionally, National Waterway-97 (NW-97)-spanning 172 km from Namkhana to Athara Banki Khal as part of the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route-is expected to significantly improve regional connectivity.
"This strategy will boost river tourism while offering a sustainable alternative mode of transport for both tourists and daily commuters," a senior Tourism Department
official said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.