Artificial Regeneration of Sonneratia apetala (Buch-ham) in Sundarbans, West Bengal

This paper deals with the propagation, protection and prospects of raiSing Sonneralia apetala (Bucb -Ham) on the, foresohre areas of Sundarbans (outside Reserved Forest). The plantation works were started during tbe year 1982 by Social Forestry Division of the Sundarban Development Project financed by International Fund for Agricultural Development. Pretreatment of Sonneratia apetala seeds are necessary prior to sowing in nursery beds or in tbe field. The different methods of treatment were discussed. Soaking in saline water and thereafter sowing after drying has shown the best performance. The author concludes that it is possible to implement Sonneralia apelala plantation artificially in Sundarban belt and thereby enhancing the prospect offorestation work in this region. The benefits from afforesfation of such unused land coold he significant and has shown high potential for further extension.