The Remembered Trees: Contractor-Driven Reconstruction and Its Consequences on Communities’ Well-Being in Coastal Tamil Nadu

Abstract

This chapter discusses how, in the wake of reconstruction, the removal of trees has long-term consequences for communities’ social life—in particular, for women. It argues that cultural considerations in post-disaster reconstruction projects are essential. The nongovernmental organization that took over the reconstruction of Vanavanmahadevi—like most organizations working in such projects in the region—opted for a contractor-driven approach, while maintaining the rhetoric of community participation. The economic indispensability of trees is reflected in their cultural importance. Trees are strongly connected to health, not only offering shade in the tropical heat, which is beneficial for a healthier life, but also providing medicine for all sorts of illnesses. The discourse in cultural anthropology and related fields regarding the sociocultural significance of trees has obviously not exercised any influence on post-disaster reconstruction research and practices, which address the importance of trees, at best, in terms of their role in mitigating the effects of a tsunami.