About :

• Sundarbans is vast contiguous mangrove forest ecosystem in the coastal region of Bay of Bengal spread across India and Bangladesh.
• It covers approximately 10,000 square kilometres of area of which 60% is in Bangladesh and remaining in India.
• Located in delta region of Padma, Meghna and Brahmaputra river basins.
• Largest tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world.
• Was recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
• Known for Royal Bengal Tiger and other numerous species of animals, including Chital Deer, Crocodile and Snakes.

Threats

• FISHERIES :
  • In Indian Sundarbans, conversion of shoreline mangroves to shrimp farms and other pisciculture farms is very popular and it is the main source of income for the local people. However, these livelihoods come at the cost of frequent clearing of the shorelines once occupied by native mangrove species
  • The building of dykes for the protection of coastal villages from tidal aggression/storm surges is another major cause that makes mangrove communities across the estuarine shorelines in the settlement regions of the Sundarbans, the most vulnerable targets of destruction.
• BUILDING OF DYKES : The building of dykes for the protection of coastal villages from tidal aggression/storm surges is another major cause that makes mangrove communities across the estuarine shorelines in the settlement regions of the Sundarbans, the most vulnerable targets of destruction.
• POLLUTION : Waste discharges from the trawlers, fishing boats and cargoes, unchecked sludge disposal from the industries add to already contaminated water in the rivers of the Sundarbans delta.

CONSERVATION

• 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.