Axis Bank, in collaboration with the Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS), has restored 16 hectares of mangrove forest in West Bengal’s Sundarbans region since 2022. The initiative, part of a larger goal to rejuvenate 135 hectares by 2028 through the plantation of 7 lakh saplings, aims to strengthen coastal biodiversity and support climate-vulnerable communities in South and North 24 Parganas.
The program integrates soil carbon estimation to measure ecological gains and align with India’s MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) mission. It also supports UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly climate action (SDG 13) and life below water (SDG 14). “This initiative reflects our commitment to building a greener, more equitable future,” said Mr. Vijay Mulbagal, Group Executive & Head – Wholesale Bank Coverage & Sustainability at Axis Bank.
Mangroves act as vital carbon sinks, storing four times more carbon than terrestrial forests and providing natural shields against cyclones, erosion, and rising sea levels. In Kolkata, Axis Bank’s green push is being welcomed by sustainability-focused investors and environmental stakeholders. Local experts see this as a timely move to balance ecological responsibility with economic development in climate-sensitive zones.