Conserving the Sundarbans

What is the issue?

The steady loss of mangroves in the Sundarbans makes conservation efforts vital.

What are mangroves?

• A mangrove is a shrub or small tree that grows in coastal saline or brackish water.
• Mangroves are salt tolerant trees, also called halophytes, and are adapted to life in harsh coastal conditions.
• They are adapted to the low oxygen (anoxic) conditions of waterlogged mud.

What are the importance of mangroves?

• It is a nature's shield against cyclones, ecological disasters and as protector of shorelines.
• Breeding and nursery grounds for a variety of marine animals.
• Good source of timber, fuel and fodder.
• Purifies air by absorbing pollutants in the air.

What are the significance of Sundarbans mangroves?

• It is the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world.
• It is spread across parts of Bangladesh's Khulna Division and the Indian state of West Bengal.
• In the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta, Sundari trees are found, which provide durable hard timber.
• This mangrove forests are known to serve as a habitat for turtles, crocodiles, gharials, snakes and tigers.
• This area covers a National Park, Tiger reserve and a Biosphere Reserve.
• It serves as a protective flood barrier for the inhabitants of Kolkata during cyclone.

What is the need for conservation?

• Long-term damage to the mangroves on the Indian side occurred when forests were cut to facilitate cultivation.
• Climate change appears to be a threat to the entire 10,000 sq km area.
• There is also a unique population of tigers that live here, adapted to move easily across the land-sea interface.
• Human settlements which depends on this mangroves for their lively hood, which will be ruined due to environmental concerns.

How it can be done?

• Local actions are needed to protect the banks from erosion.
• Strengthening the mangroves with endemic species that can thrive in changing salinity conditions can provide co-benefits to local communities.
• Ecotourism holds the potential to raise awareness and funds for the conservation.
• International climate finance to be channelled to India and Bangladesh for the region’s preservation.
• Climate research and social science have a synergistic role in giving the Sundarbans a greater chance of survival.

Source: The Hindu