A delegation from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) visited Odisha’s Ganjam district to assess the progress of the Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities (ECRICC) project, which is promoting ecosystem restoration and climate-resilient livelihoods across vulnerable coastal regions.
The delegation, comprising Diane Jegam, Regional Manager for East and South Asia, and Dr Bapon Fakhruddin, Principal Climate Investment Specialist, reviewed field interventions across the Chilika-Ganjam and Bahuda landscapes and met State Project Director Prem Kumar Jha, who is also the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), to discuss the project’s implementation.
Jha said Odisha’s coastline faces growing threats from cyclones, tidal surges, coastal erosion and flooding, making climate adaptation an urgent priority. He said the ECRICC project is strengthening resilience in coastal communities across Ganjam, Puri, Kendrapara and Balasore through ecosystem restoration and community-led adaptation.
The delegation inspected backyard ornamental fisheries, seagrass restoration, mangrove plantations, seaweed farming and grow-out crab culture projects. It also interacted with “Climate Champions”—grassroots volunteers trained to promote climate-resilient practices and mobilise local communities.
Describing the initiative as a model for sustainable adaptation, Jegam said ECRICC integrates ecosystem restoration with livelihood generation, reducing climate vulnerability while creating scalable, community-driven solutions for coastal resilience.
In Ganjam, the project covers four blocks, 40 gram panchayats and 191 villages, benefiting nearly 50,000 households. Around 5,000 direct beneficiaries have been mobilised through 250 Self-Help Groups.
Sunny Khokhar, Divisional Forest Officer, Berhampur Forest Division-cum-Nodal Officer for ECRICC in Ganjam, said interventions such as mangrove and seagrass restoration, seaweed farming, System of Rice Intensification (SRI), grow-out crab culture and ornamental fisheries are restoring fragile coastal ecosystems while generating sustainable livelihoods.
National Project Coordinator Dr Sundeep, Deputy Conservator of Forest Sisir Kumar Mishra, DFO Chilika Amlan Nayak, UNDP Regional Technical Specialist Aishath Azza and officials from the State and District Project Management Units also participated in the review.