The Sundarbans is light of nature

The Sundarbans is light of nature

By dr.fourkan Ali

The Sundarbans mangrove forests form the roots of die mighty Padma (Ganges) river that branch into the Yamuna and jamuna rivers and their tributaries shared by Bangladesh  and India. Deep into the jungle the nature is divine, an array of plants and animals in all their glories sharing this massive live delta of rivers and tributaries with millions of people upstream. The Sundarbans is a unique wildemess area, being the largest mangrove forest in the world that stretches some 6017 square kilometers across southwatem Bangladesh and into India. Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988, this precious wilderness is one of the last refuges of the Royal Bengal Tiger and home to a diversity of plants and animals some of which are found nowhere else in the world.

Through the network of estuaries, many varieties of plants compete for light and space. Common to these forests are the Sundori Mangrove that are endemic to this region and the Gewa Mangroves. The tall Sundori (beautiful) mangroves loom 30-40 feet high, constituting about 6% of the wood volume and are mostly found in less saline conditions. The Gewa Mangroves are more salt-tolerant and become more dominant closer to the beaches, constituting about 28% of the total wood volume. The mangrove trees that grow here have complex roots called Pnenmetophors. The rigid roots spike 'up through the mud and play an important role holding together the soil. Protecting the land from cyclones and land degradation, they absorb carbon and release oxygen in water and by the process of photosynthesis in the presence of sunlight. Tire Keora tree is common. It is quite tall with many branches that house the Rhesus monkeys and birds and have tasty leaves that are popular snacks for the Horeen (deer). Many other trees can be seen here, including Raintrees that actually look like rain clouds, Nipa Palms (Golpata trees) that have leaves which are used to build mob, Horgoza trees and vines that strangle the mangrove trees.

Herds of Horeen are seen on the mud flats, grazing in the Jamtala grasslands. The larger male stags have antlers that look like the branches of a tree -- they guard the grazing Horeens, watching out for predators. The mud flats are shared by Horeens, Rhesus monkeys, and the smooth coated otters and different species of birds. There is the less adjutant stork that stands tall with long pointy legs and neck with a pointy beak, and a bright white intermediate egret with a sharp yellow beak who sits gracefully on a stump of tree. An estuarine alligator lounges on the mud flat, This prehistoric reptile is at least 12 feet long with powerful tail and jaw that Could kill a person in a death roll. lt is startled and dashes for the water never to be seen again. The brown-winged kingfisher has a bright blue crest and a beak that could kill a snake. The less common ruddy kingfisher has a distinctive white spot  on its back and along tail. The lesser racket ale drogo has straight black feathers and greater racket ale drogo has a crest and long helical feathers - they are seen dashing from tree to tree. A rare musk fin-foot duck waddles across the estuary and hides in some grasses. The Bahraini Kites are birds of prey that have brown and white feathers. They soar and with their sharp eye sight dive into the water to catch fish.

We all share one world

Further inland around the villages grow many varieties of fruits and vegetables, including dates, jam fruit trees, mangoes, papaya bananas, coconuts, cabbages, cauliflower tomatoes and potatoes. With scarcity of land, the local villagers here make the best possible use of the land growing crops for food and not for cash. This ensures adequate food for their families, friends and some fair trading with their neighbors.

We have not inebriated the land from our parent, we have borrowed it from our children'

Many small fishing boats can be seen on the water. Some fishermen look humble fishing in their traditional ways. They sit in their little boats with a fishing line, sipping tea and waving to boats as they pass by Other less responsible fishermen use bigger boats and nets for bigger fish catches, some are even cheating by using explosives and chemicals which are highly illegal.

In addition to fish netting is shrimp netting that has large by catch that put the aquatic ecosystems out of balance and reduce the presence of water lilies that are habitat and a major food source for many aquatic species, including turtles, fish, shrimp, and frogs. These practices are not sustainable and pose a threat to the long-term livability of these very important aquatic ecosystems.

‘There is enough food for everyone’s need but not everyone’s greed.’

The Sundarbans forests contain natural resources that are the livelihood of many locals. Small traditional practices such as timber harvesting, grass cutting, and extracting honey from bee-hives must be kept small so that the next generation, too, has the privileges that nature provides. Recognition of constitutional laws and enforcement of rules and regulations by forest authorities and forest courts are necessary for the protection and sustainable use of natural resources in Bangladesh. Raising awareness and education among the wider community is important so that we can respect the earth and take responsibility of our actions.

Eco-tourism is environmentally friendly tourism that gives people the opportunity to experience the beauties of nature, to learn about the wildlife and how to be more environmentally responsible. Scientific researches on the Sundarbans are valued by people who are studying plants and animals. Scientific research is groundwork for educating people about nature and field studies help to find new species, explain reasons for declines in species, and help develop new medicines.

Managing for the future

People and the forests are natural partners with a great deal to offer each other They have been natural partners for thousands of years; there are records of collecting revenues and earnings of people in the forests in Mogul Suttons some 500 years ago, The British recognized the importance of these forests in 1875-1876 and protected them as parks since the 1860s. Today the Sundarbans remain uninhabited because the saline conditions make crops difficult to grow fear of attack from the ferocious Royal Bengal Tiger and due to the rules and restrictions on access. The remaining wilderness area is managed as the Sundarbans Forest Reserve that ensures preservation and sustainable utilization of natural resources under environmental laws.

The Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh launched the Sundarbans Conservation Project (SCP) on April 1, 1999. The SCP recognizes areas of international conservation significance and is aimed at long-term sustainable conservation of bio-diversity in the Sundarbans Reserved Forest.

The SCP demonstrated the government's commitment to the environment and recognition of International Agreements. Bangladesh is a signatory to: Ramsar Convention, 1971; Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species, 1973; Convention of Marine Pollution 1973 and Convention on Biodiversity 1975. These International Laws are non-legally binding documents that are not enforceable. However; a commitment at the highest possible level is recommended. The Government has a moral obligation for the benefit of future generations and the long-term livability of the country.

As an environmental engineering student from Australia, a volunteer for UNAA Earth Repair promoting earth repair action, I found the ferry journey into the Sundarbans to be most rewarding and truly a memorable experience, I breathed the fresh air and felt energized, I bathed in the Bay of Bengal and felt revitalized, and I sat on the white sandy beach and questioned 'who I am’ and ‘who is God’, I saw the water in the ocean, soil on the land, and the sun in the sky in their purest forms. The trees that grow protect soil from cyclones and land degradation, and help increase the land‘s fertility They absorb carbon and release oxygen in water and air; improving water quality and air quality The trees also play an Important role in the biosphere through evotranspiration, reducing global warming and the greenhouse effect.

'Rees are for life. Trees give us AIR, WATER and SOIL on which we, as human beings, depend for our survival. We, as custodians of the land, can exploit this precious resource, by reaping what we sow. We can conserve the land for the people by planting trees, or we can preserve the resources from the people to ensure protection and sustainable use of those resources, we live in a world that binds us and are all spiritual by Nature.

Dr.Fourkan Ali

Mob: 01711579267

Email- dr.fourkanali@gmail.com