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
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