The Sundarbans ecosystem
By dr.Fourkan Ali
The
Sundarbans is the world's single largest mangrove forest that extends across Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. Centuries ago, people used to refer to the Sundarbans and its adjacent
region as `Bhatia’ - meaning low-lying areas -- which suggest that the most
important physiographical feature around was its wetlands and water bodies. A
unique reservoir of bio-diversity the forest is more than five thousand years
old. There is no archeological evidence that could provide a reliable
chronological history of the Sundarbans.
Bangladesh
owns about two thirds of the format that makes about 45 percent of the
country's total productive forest area Located on the southern most extremity
of Bangladesh, the Sundarbans comprise an extensive flat, coastal and deltaic
land formed by the confluence of the three mighty rivers of the Ganges,
Brahmaputra and Meghna It is cross-crossed by large tidal rivers as well as
channels and creeks, all discharging into the Bay of Bengal.
The
forest encompasses a land area of 6017 sq km, of which 1874 sq km constitute
the river water area. The forest is bordered to the south by the Bay of Bengal while polders and a 'cultural land border the forest
to the north. The western border follows the Raimangal- Harinbhanga Rivers,
which is also forms the international boundary with India. To the east lies the Bales war river and Meghna
estuary.
There are rivers and canals spread across this
forest like a net with their innumerable branches. Nearly 450 large and small
rivers occupy about 1 lakh 75 thousands 685 hectares or about 50 per cent of
the Sundarbans. The biggest river is the Pusur. Other rivers worth-mention are Bales
war Sibsa, Ar-pangasia, Bhola, Horlnbhanga, Kalindi, Andharmanik, Raimangal,
Kapotaksha, Koira, Shela Bhadra etc. As one proceeds to the south, the rivers
widen. Some rivers are so wide that one cannot see one bank from the other. Bales
war and Pusur rivers and their tributaries and distributaries are connected
with the Ganges. As a result these rivers and their branches have flow
of sweet water The Sibsa and other rivers in the western part have their source
of sweet water only in the Ganges and the northern portion of the Sundarbans
depend upon the rain water. As a result these rivers and their branches have
flow of sweet water. The Sibsa other rivers in the western part have source of
sweet water only in the Ganges and the northern portion of the Sundarbans depends
upon the rain water. As a result, the sweet water flow in these rivers
decreases during the dry season when there is a massive intrusion of saline
water. Moreover the condition of the rivers and canals in the Sundarbans is
deteriorating. Shoals are forming and navigability is declining. Rover erosion
is taking place at some places.
The
forest is within the three administrative districts of Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat. Administered by the Forest
Department (FD), the area is divided into four forest ranges, namely;
Sarankhola, Chandpai, Khulna and Burigoalini. Three patches of the forest in the south
have been declared as "Mldlife Sanctuaries". They are Kachikhali-Katka
sactuary in the Sarankhola range, Neelkamol at Hiron point in Khulna range and Mandarbari in the Burigoalini range. They
have been declared by UNESCO in 1997 as the "World Heritage sires".
The
forest is flat and the maximum ground elevation is 3 meter above the mean sea
level. The land developed through the process of sedimentation, subsidence and
down-wrapping of sediments. The soil is deep alluvium of silty clay loam. It
has a tropical humid climate with temperature ranging between 20.4 degree and
51.5 degree Centigrade. The annual rainfall is between 1640 and 2000 mm. The rainfall
is strongly seasonal and 85 percent falls during the monsoon, July-October
Semi-diurnal type tidal inundation regulates the hydrology of the forest. The
four main seasons are pre-monsoon (March-May), monsoon (June-September),
post-monsoon (October- November) and dry winter (December-February). The
pre-monsoon period is characterized by the southerly winds, high temperature
and high rate of evapo-transpiration with occasional heavy thunderstoms and nor
western. The forest areas are inundated by tidal water increase which also
raises the salinity of river water.
The
monsoon ushers in high rainfall, humidity and cloud cover Sediment load and
water levels of the rivers also increase. The salinity level is lowered due to
the influence of onrushing fresh water from the upstream region. Occasional
thunderstorms, cyclones, storm surges and rising salinity levels of river water
occur during post-monsoon season, Generally, violent cyclonic storms brew in
the Bay from mid- May to mid-June due to north coastal winds, Cyclones also
occur in October and early November The dry winter season is characterized by cool,
dry and sunny weather with low precipitation.
There
is a popular belief that the "Sundarbans" derived its name from the
Sundari (Heritiera fomes) trees, a major component of the forest. Legends also
have it that the forest received its name from foreign explorers, who termed it
as "the jungle of sundry trees" or diverse kind of trees, which
finally came to be called the "Sundrybans". There is mother popular
folk tale that the very name originated from local word "Samundar"
meaning the seas, which later was changed to "Sarnundarbans".
Floral diversity
The
forest supports a diversified flora and fauna. The floristic composition of the
Sundarbans encompasses a variety of plants including trees, shrubs, grasses,
epiphytes and lianas. Being mostly evergreen, they possess very similar
physiological and structural adaptations. As the tidal estuaries deposit vast
amount of nutrient rich silt in the deltaic region, they provide an ideal
condition in the Sundarbans for the propagation of thick vegetation. Seemingly
natural and simple, the succession of mangroves is in reality quite complicated.
Each and every species in the Sundarbans has to struggle to grew and survive.
Salinity soil conditions, nutrients, weather hazard, sunshine, temperature,
Cyclones, tides etc. render the existence of every species difficult in various
stages of life cycle.
The
uniqueness of the Sundarbans reserve forest lies in its diversity of species.
It is interesting to note that tree height is relatively shorter in the
west-southern pans and longer in east-northern parts of the forest. Another
fascinating feature of the forest is that water of the former region is more
saline than that of the latter region. Flora includes 66 species of plants of which
31 are trees. The others are shrubs and climbers. The distribution of the
species is not uniform and primarily controlled by the level of salinity and
not by the tidal inundation which is fairly uniform, On the basis of salinity
level, three zones are recognized : fresh water zone, moderately saline zone
and highly saline none. Salinity increases from east to west and north to
south.
Altogether
13 forest and four non-forest types of vegetation have been identified of which
the Sundari (Heritiera fomes), Gewa (Excoecaria agallocha) and Garan (Ceriopls
decandra) are dominant in the fresh water, moderately saline and highly saline
zones respectively The Sundari prefers fresh water flushing, drainage
predominance and firm higher ground. It is vulnerable to fungal infection and
top-dying of the trees makes their survival difficult. Commercially, it is the
most sought after tree, comprising about 21% of the forest cover of Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans. Gewa can tolerate high
salinity and grows in groves in association with the Sundari, Bain, Hental and Goran
bushes. Commercially very important, the Gewa timber is used for paper pulp and
in match factories. Garan species of the mangroves grow in the southem
Sundarbans, where the tidal influence is high. Being the fuel wood most in
demand in the Sundarbans, Garan is also used as a building material.
The
other major trees are Keora (Sonneratia apetala), Ora (Scaseolaris), Passur
(Xylocarpus mekongensis), Dhundul (Xgranatum), Bain (Avicennia alba), Kankra (Bruguiera
gymmotrhiza). Keora and Ora look similar in appearance but Keora being bigger; spreads
its branches much more extensively. The Keora is the most graceful and tallest
tree in the Sundarbans. Ecologically Keora is the most imponant tree in the
mangrove food chain. Birds, bats, rats, monkeys, deer; fishes, insects get
their food from its bark, leaves and fruits. Passur is the most praised timber
in the Sundarbans as it is used both as building material and furniture timber:
Hental
(Phoenix paludosa) is another member of the palm family commonly
found throughout the Sundarbans. It is usually a slender straight, small tree
which can attain a height of6 meter. The stems of the hental are harvested
throughout the year and is sold for making rafters, fence and house-posts. The
Golpatta (Nypa fruiticans) grows abundantly along the banks of the Sundarbans
rivers a.nd creeks. It is a stemlm palm whose leaves look like Coconut fronds
and are mainly used for thatching roofs. Bala (Hibiscus tiliaoeous) is a scrambling
woody shrub found along the river banks and is extensively harvested for
fuelwood. Garjan and jhanna possess stilt roots, their leaves are
thick
and wide. They usually grow along the soggy banks of the creeks. Hogla or
Elephant Grass (Typha elphantina) is a pioneer species generally found on
riverbanks, estuarine chars (shoals) and along the edge of streams. It is used
for making mats and as thatching material for temporary sheds.
Faunal
variety
Animals have to struggle for life in the
Sundarbans due to the forests’ adverse and hostile environment. Almost all the
species can tolerate brackish water and subsist on their water intake from
food. All the resident species of aquatic mammals, reptiles and amphibians are powerful
swimmers and habituated to meeting food requirements partially from aquatic
sources. All the terrestrial animals such as birds, reptiles, fishes, plankton
etc. are well adapted to the daily periodical and seasonal tidal rhythms. All
animals including birds restrict their movement during the high tide. But fishes
find the high tide ideal for feeding.
Sundarbans faunas include 52 species of
mammals, 226 species of birds, 35 species reptiles and 8 species of amphibians.
Sundarbans is one of the last remaining natural habitat of the Royal Bengal
’Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). Population density of tigers in the southern
Sundarbans grasslands is amazingly high due to the abundance of deer and boar
population there. The Sundarbans tigers are more prone to north-south movement
and rather adverse to east-west mobility The Sundarbans offer no ideal ground
as a tiger habitat. A soft-padded creature like tiger favors walking on dry
ground. The Sundarbans tigers have to cross the rivers, creeks and rivulets
everyday for survival. They are forced to tread on soggy. muddy terrain and
negotiate the piercing roots of various mangrove species. A study suggests that
the tiger population of the Sundarbans could be between 800 and 1000.
The
other important wild animals in the Sundarbans are the Chital and barking deer;
wild boars, rhesus macaque, otters, cats, tree shrews, rats, civets, mongooses,
porcupines etc. The Chital or spotted deer (Cervus axis) are reputed to be the
most beautiful deer in the world and they have favored the swamp forests of the
Sundarbans as their habitat. Compared with other deer species, the Chital is of
medium stature. Another deer species found in the north-eastrn Sundarbans of
Chandpai and Sarankhola ranges is the barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak),
characterised by its doglike barking calls. The Chitals are well distributed
throughout the southern sea-board meadows of the Sundarbans where the can
graze. Their main fodder in the forest are the leaves and fruits are Keora, new
leaves of passur and gewa and various grasses. Large herds of deer may be found
in the sea-facing meadows of the Sundarbans in Kochikhali-Katka, Chanmiakhali,
Titar Char, jhanpa, Tinkona island. Hiron point and Mandarbaria areas. The
barking deer are found only in the northern areas of Chandpai and Nalian forest
ranges in the Sundarbans. The wild boar (Sus scrofa), another dominant mammal
species of the Sundarbans, is a large and heavily built animal. Being
omnivorous, the boar eats a variety of food- roots, tubes, insects, mollusks,
carrion, small mammals and even the remains of a tiger kill. Notorious
crop-raiders, They are used to attacking and ransacking standing crops on the
forest edge.
The
Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta) lives ln the Sundarbans in highly organised
troops; up to thirty animals co - exist in a band under the leadership of a
dominant male. They are equally at home on trees. on the spike roots infested
ground as well as the mudbanks. They feed on keora leaves and fruits of
telakucha, insects, small lizards, bird eggs, crabs etc. The Rhesus Macaques
have developed a mutually effective relationship with the deer in the
Sundarbans. A herd of deer can often be seen feeding under a tree inhabited by
these monkeys. Both species react to eac other’s alarm calls, warning about the
presence of a predator -- a tiger perhaps.
Otter
is mainly an amphibian mammal and can be found all over the Sundarbans, but
lesser number in the southern areas. The commonest otters of the Sundarbans are
the claw-les otters (Aonyx cinerea). The species used widely for fishing in the
Sundarbans by the Tarjali fishermen are the smooth Indian otters (Lutra
perspicillata). They are bigger; stockier and lighter in colour. It has a
streamlined body with shot leg, a thick neck and a long and powerful tail. Like
the mongoose, otters sometime stand on their hind legs to see around. Forest
otters are active both during day and nlght and they start hunting as the tide
goes down. Three species of laser cats may be seen in the Sundarbans, Being
highly secretive and exclusively natural creatures, it is difficult to find
them. Their coats are well adapted to concealing. All three species are
concentrated in the northern forests. The jungle cat (Felis chaus) prefers
peripheral forest areas. The leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) ls the most
widely distributed animal, compared with the other two. And the fishing cat
(Prionailurus viperous) prefers swampy areas of the forest.
The common tree shrews (Tupala glis) are among
the neglected animals of the Sundarbans as they have seldom been recorded. The
family Muridae is well represented in the wideness of the Sundarbans. Among
other members of the family, musk shrews, bandicoot rats, Indian fleld mouse,
house mouse and the common house rats are frequently seen in the area. Civets,
mongooses and porcupines are all natural animals and very difficult to find.
The presence of Indian porcupine (Hystrix indica) may be felt in Chandpai range
areas. The mongooses (Herpestes auropunctatus and Hedwardsi) are found along
the forest fringes. The common palm civets (Wverricula indica) can be seen in
the eastem forests and the prrsenoe of the large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha)
is hardly disoemible inside the forest.
The brackish water of the Sundarbans estuary
supports a number of dolphin species. The presence of the Ganges
river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is most common in the rivers of the
Sundarbans. The Crawdad dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris), melon-headed dolphin
(Peponocephala electra) and the little porpoise (Neophocaenaphocaenoides) may also
be seen without much difficulty. The globular and blunt-headed Crawdad dolphin
prefers less saline waters and can be seen in the northern Sundarbans rivers.
The massive melon-headed dolphins are well adapted to saline water like the
porpoises. Dolphins are seen mostly in the confluence of the major rivers and
the creeks. The short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) are
sometimes found within the Sundarbans.
In the Sundarbans, saltwater or estuarine
crocodiles (Crocodylusporosus) can be seen very often. Once they were abundant
ln number in almost every estuary of forest ranges. Sundarbans rivers,
especially the chars of the Passur river near Khulna were infested with these reptiles. They were quite
fierce. Of late, their population is on the decline, as their egg-laying
habitats are being disturbed by collectors of shrimp fries. lt is believed that
the total number of crocodiles today may be around 250. In the Sundarbans, one
can find some monitor lizards. Three of their species can be found ln the
forest: they are the Bengal (Varanus bengalensis), the yellow monitor (Varanus
flavaoens) and the ring lizard (Varanus salvator). The ring lizard, dre second
largest terrestrial lizard after the Komodo dragon. finds the Sundarbans river
estuaries a congenial place for breeding. lt is a voracious eater of birds,
bird chicks, snakes, rodents, fishes, etc.
Among the venomous snakes in the Sundarbans,
the King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is considered to be the largest. These are
diurnal creatures as their prey species like rattle snakes, young monitor
lizards, etc. The King Cobra also preys on small mammals, lizards, bird
chicks and other poisonous and non-poisonous snakes. They can move amazingly
fast despite their huge size. The forest dwellers dread the King Cobra because
of their size and open-mouth charge with hissings. Other cobra species are:
Bengal Cobra (Najakauthia), Binocellete Cobra (Naja naja). Bengal
cobra is a scary creature and can attack without much provocation. They prefer
water habitat and consume mammals, eggs of birds, lizards, amphibians, etc. The
Binocellete Cobras are comparatively rare species in the Sundarbans and can be
seen in the dry areas of the forest. They carry very potent venom and prey
mostly on rodents and amphibians.
The sluggish vipers are of two species: the
chandra bora or the Russel`s viper and the tika bora Thick bodied, the Chandra
bora looks more like a young python. The tika bora or spotted tailed green
vipers are almost undetectable as they easily camouflage their presence in the
green foliage of their habitat. They prey on lizards, insects and bird chicks
and eggs. The sea snakes are highly venomous, but due to their small mouth and
position of the venom injecting fangs, they seldom bite. Hook-nosed sea snake
is the most common sea snake, which is highly venomous. There are a number of
non-poisonous snakes including the rock pythons in the Sundarbans.
Among
the other reptiles and amphibians, the river terrapin (Batagurbaska) is one of
the most commercially exploited estuarine turtles and is listed as an
endangered species. The Indian roofed turtle (Kachuga tecta) and the peacock
soft-shell turtle (Ttionyx hurum), also listed as endangered, are exploited by
the tunle traders. The olive ridley and hawksbill turtles can be seen wading
across the shoals of the forest. The exclusive green frogs (Euphlyctis
hexadactylus) could be seen in Chandpai area, Other forest amphibians include
the skipper frog, bull frog, cricket frog, common toadg and tree frogs seen in
the forest and its adjoining areas.
The
Sundarbans also provids habitat to a variety of birds. Around 226 species of
birds can be found there. Most are resident birds, but some migratory ones can
also be seen in the winter season. For more than 100 species of waterfowls, of
which some 50 age known to be migratory ones. the Sundarbans provides an
important habitat for seasonal migration. The periodically inundated muddy
banks of the creeks and the rivers are the ne ting and feeding grounds of these
migratory waterfowls. Notable among these are the masked fin foot.
white-bellied sea eagle, Pallas’s fish eagle, 8 species of kingfishers, waders,
gulls and tems. The loss of nesting sites and availability of food are major
factors adversely affecting the distribution, composition and population trends
of some of these species.
Though
an exact account of fisheries resources of the Sundarbans is non-existent, it
is reported that about 120 species of fish are commercially harvested from the
area. Dublarchar - an estuarine island in the southern tip of the Sundarbans --
has a sprawling fish industry where seasonal fishermen have developed a fishing
village of make-shift houses.
People of the Sundarbans
The
Sundarbans with its vast wealth of natural resources always attracted people
from different parts of country as well as from abroad for multifarious
economic interests. On the one hand there are pirates, poachers and plunderers
looting the scaroe resouroes of the forests. On the other; slowly groups of
people like Bawalis (woodcutters), Mouals (honey harvesters), grass cutters,
fishermen and mollusk shell collectors converged in the area for exploiting the
forest resources on which their livelihood depends. These latter sections of
people are the forest dwellers -- courageous, bold and adventurers. They are
aware of the hazards of the forest life. Living in the forests for many
generations, they have by now developed a coping strategy for survival in a
hostile and inhospitable environment.
Traditionally
these forest dwellers possess the indigenous instinct and knowledge of their
forefathers. They face various natural calamities like tidal surges, cyclones,
rains, scorching heat, and humidity they have to tread between the trails of
poisonous snakes, wild boars, crocodiles, man-eating tigers and the pirates.
They leave behind their families for months and lead a life of great insecurity
and loneliness. It can be said drat lives of these forest dwellers are
regulated by tidal rhythm and the movement of the moon. The Bawalis, Mouals,
grass cutters, fishermen have to know about the tidal movement. Even the
predators and the preys in the jungle are aware of tidal timings. The moon
plays an important role in the forests. Specially for the fishermen, Vara Katal
or Vara Gone, meaning moonlit nights bring hope and fortune, as they expect a
good catch this time of the month. 0n the other hand, Mora Katal is a period of
dark nights that bring grief and miseries for them.
Bawalis,
the wood cutters, receive seasonal permits from the local forest offices, which
allow them to harvest mainly the Gewa trees for paper and pulp industry.
Although they move in a group, they take high risk as they enter the forests
and live in make-shift houses for months in isolation. Mouals are seasonal
professionals who work for three to four months inside the forest during the
flowering season. Honey collection season starts on the first day of April with
assembly prayers at Burigoalini range office. Permits are issued by the forest
officials for the particular season. Most of the honey producing plants grows
abundantly in the Burigoalini range areas. Under the leadership of a Shaindar
or Bahardar, a group of Mouals, usually in odd numbers goes to Mahal, the site
for honey collection for a period of three months. The Mouals perform the most
dangerous profession. Virtually, they have to traverse every inch of the forest
land through the apparently impenetrable mud and slush. They walk bare-footed
over the shula-ridden jungle floors and swim across the creeks and canals in
high risk. In a team, there is a Gunin or a spiritual guide to provide divine
blessing. Every year a few of these Mouals are killed by tigers.
The
Jalias or the fishermen come to the Sundarbans from the neighboring districts.
Offshore fishermen are almost strangers having little interaction with the
forest people, while the onshore fishermen are part of the forest dwellers.
One-third area of the Sundarbans is water. Hundreds of Water channels cross-cross
the landmass and constitute an ideal habitat for brackish water fishes. Tire
fishermen constitute the largest forest dwelling community about 48 percent of
the total forest dwellers. Of late, due to introduction of shrimp farming,
shrimp fry collection in the rivers and creeks of the Sundarbans is on the rise
causing destruction of fish diversity as they only collect the shrimp fries and
throw away all other species. The forest dwellers pay homage to certain gods
and deities whom they thought to be their saviors and protectors. The popularly
worshipped are the Banbibi, Gazi Shaheb, Dakshin Ray, Pir Badar, etc. These
days, almost all the forest dwellers, irrespective of their religious or
communal beliefs, seem to rely much more on a piece of cloth, a triangular red
cloth blessed by the "Pir Shaheb" of Noapara, which they hoist atop
the mast of their boat with great respect.
Depletion d biodiversity
The
biodiversity of the Sundarbans has been under threat for various reasons. There
has been increasing conversion of the forest land for agriculture, mainly for
paddy and shrimp farming and for human habitation. The forest’s bio-diversity
is also threatened by unabated poaching hunting, illegal felling of trees,
diseases, unplanned and over extraction of recourses, insufficient conservation
effort, deterioration of law and order situation, corrupt practices of the
forest officials and unscrupulous traders etc. Poverty population pressure and
encroachment by the forest/local people are blamed for the depletion of
bio-diversity in the Sundarbans. Contrary to this customary belief, plundering
and exploitation of forest recourses by the poachers and dacoits in connivance
with the corrupt forest officials are said to be the main causes of forest loss
in the Sundarbans. Recurrent natural calamities like storms, cyclones and
tornadoes pose a big threat to tall slender trees, which act as a barrier
against the cyclones and tidal surges originating in the sea. More than a dozen
of Cyclones have hit the Sundarbans during the last decade. A disastrous cyclone
at Dublar Char in 1988 ,15 November 2007and
25 may 2009 devastated the forests and the fishermen’s villages.
Besides
these anthropogenic activities and natural calamities, some ecological changes
like increase in salinity, outbreak of diseases like "top dying" of
the Sundari trees pose a serious threat to rich biodiversity of the Sundarbans.
Such diseases are taking a heavy toll of the wood lots in the Sundarbans.
Actual cause of the disease is not yet known. Diversion of the natural courses
of rivers, construction of embankments, dams and bridges in the upstream as
well as decreased flow of fresh water in the rivers resulted in the increase in
salinity level and over-silting in many places and caused subsequent changes in
the mangrove ecosystem. Increased salinity and siltation within the forest area
may hinder the biological functions of the breathing roots and are supposed to
the major causes of top dying of the trees. Possibility of fungus pathogens can
not be overlooked. In the Sundarbans, for bringing noncommercial cover areas
under tree cover in different areas of Chandpai, Sarankhola and Kulna forest
ranges, plantation of exotic species, like Acacia nilotica, Alibizia procera
have taken place. Though at a limited scale, many other exotic species have
been introduced in the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystems, particularly in areas
around the forest offices. It is apprehended that these exotic species may pose
a threat to the native variety of mangrove species.
Sea-level rise
Another
looming threat to the Sundarbans -- the world‘s largest remaining mangrove
forest -- is the much talked about sea-level rise that scientists have already
predicted. According to a conservative estimate, the sea-level rise that is
expected to inundate many a island nations as well as low-lying coastal regions
across the world – thanks to the global warming and green house effects, it is
now widely believed by experts that sea-level rise by one meter, expected to
take place by the current century, will devour the whole of me Sundarbans. That
is another major concern for our great natural heritage called the Sundarbans.
Following
reasons have been identified as major threats to die bio diversity of the
Sundarbans:
O Population
pressure, expansion of agricultural land construction of houses, roads,
embankments, bridges, etc;
O Faulty shrimp fry collection and
conversion of forest lands into shrimp farming;
O Unscrupulous
harvesting of forest resources and insufficient measures to regenerate the
resources;
O indiscriminate
use of chemical fertilizers and insecticides in croplands and adoption of
unplanned agricultural practices resulting in low productivity of the forest;
O Introduction of exotic species of
trees that threaten the native mangrove species;
O Lack
of appropriate policies for proper management and training of forest officials
working in the wildlife sanctuary/protected areas;
O Activities of the pirates, poachers,
plunderers of resources in the Sundarbans;
O Uncontrolled diseases causing a
havoc, mainly on the Sundari trees;
O Unregulated
testing and exploration activities by the international Oil Companies in the
Sundarbans; and
O Apprehended
sea level rise due to global warming, which would permanently inundate coastal
low-lying areas with saline water.
Conclusions
Tire
World Heritage Site of Bangladesh, the Sundarbans, is indeed a treasure-trove
of bio-diversity because of its wide spectrum of flora and fauna, its range of
ecosystem, species and other forest resources have supported and contributed to
the existence, adaptation and well-being of the forest dwellers in particular
and people in the periphery in general. Indigenous knowledge and practices of
the local people – the forest dwellers, acquired through many generations, in
fact helped in the conservation and management of the forests. They are no
"encroachers". The pirates, poachers, corrupt officials and
unscrupulous forest traders are in fact the plunderers of the forests. They are
the infiltrators to be dealt with strictly Rule of law has to be established in
the forests with proper forest conservation policies and plans, Forest
officials have to be properly trained in modem conservation practices. Forest
resources are to be considered from conservation point of view and taken as commercial
products. The sanctuaries have to be strictly managed by enforcing laws and
regulations. Forest users including the tourists must be made aware of the
sensitivities of the nature and wildlife within the forests. Let us not forget
the fact that the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans are a delicate ecosystem
that must be dealt with proper attention and care.
Dr.Fourkan
Ali
Mob:
01711579267,
Email- dr.fourkanali@gmail.com
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