Natural Disasters are Transforming the Sundarbans
Climate change is increasing environmental risks in the Sundarbans. Rising sea levels are causing saltwater to intrude into the forest’s interior. Reduced upstream water flow is causing silt to build up in rivers, canals, and forest areas due to tidal water.
Salinity has reduced the number of Sundari trees in the forest, which are now being replaced by salt-tolerant species like Garjan and Kankra.
Analysts say the Sundarbans is adapting and transforming in response to natural disasters. In recent years, mangrove trees have grown rapidly on newly emerged land near the forest along the rivers and sea. However, tree numbers have not increased significantly in the core forest area.
Forest officials said it’s important to note that the devastation caused by disasters such as Cyclone Sidr and Cyclone Aila
has undergone a natural recovery. The incidence of premature tree death has significantly declined compared to previous years. Currently, about 70% of the vegetation in the Sundarbans consists of Sundari, Gewa, and Garjan trees.
However, among these species, five are listed as endangered, including Lahur(Buteamonosperma), Banbokul(Vachellia nilotica), Mahajani lata, and two species of orchids.
In 2020, a World Bank report revealed some data indicating a reduction in the size of the Sundarbans. The report stated that in 1904, the area of the Sundarbans was 11,904 square kilometers. By 1967, it had decreased to 11,663 square kilometers.
According to the Forest Department, in 2024, the forest’s area is now 10,000 square kilometers, meaning that in 100 years, the Sundarbans has shrunk by 1,904 square kilometers.
Meanwhile, the Forest Department has begun a survey to determine the quantity of different tree species in the Sundarbans. This survey aims to assess the number and types of plants in the 4,142 square kilometers of the forest’s land area.
According to the Forest Department, a 1903 study identified 334 species of plants, 165 species of algae, and 13 species of orchids in the Sundarbans, including Sundari, Gewa, Garjan, Passur, Kankra, Keora, Dhundal tree, Bain, Khalsi, Amur, and Singra.
A 1985 survey revealed a reduction in forest and shrub species to 66 species, and a 1997 survey found only 48 plant species in the Sundarbans.
However, the latest survey conducted in 2014-15 recorded an increase in the number of tree species to 184. The list includes 54 tree species, 28 creepers, 13 shrubs, 22 bushes, 13 ferns, 12 orchids, 3 parasitic plants, 2 palms, 28 grasses, and 9 fungi.
Researchers studying the Sundarbans state that the damage from Sidr and Aila remains unrepaired. Dr. Moniruzzaman and his team from Jagannath University found that nearly two-thirds of the large trees in the Sundarbans were destroyed by recent cyclones. The scars of Sidr remain in the Kotka Wildlife Sanctuary in the eastern Sundarbans.
Hundreds of broken tree trunks remain in Kotka, with some trees twisted and snapped, while others were uprooted. The old trunks have rotted in the salty seawater.
However, forest officials say that due to planned government actions after Sidr and Aila, the forest’s resources have significantly increased.
Mihir Kumar De, Sundarbans Forest Conservator for the Khulna region/range, stated that the Sundarbans has been able to recover from the disaster damage.
In areas where the forest was cleared due to Sidr’s devastation, new trees have grown. However, due to saltwater intrusion, salt-tolerant species like Garjan and Kankra are growing more abundantly.
He noted that the western part of the forest used to have premature tree death, but this issue has not been seen in recent years outside specific areas. However, the grasslands of Kotka-Kochikhali have seen a decrease in tree cover.
Nirmal Kumar Pal, Divisional Forest Officer for Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation in Khulna, said that the sanctuary area in the Sundarbans has been expanded from 139,000 hectares to 317,000 hectares to protect wildlife. During breeding seasons, all kinds of entry into the forest are prohibited.
Ponds have been created for tigers and other wildlife to provide fresh water, and elevated mounds have been built to guard against tidal surges.
The Forest Department is implementing the “Sundarbans Protection Project” and the “Tiger Conservation Project” to protect the area’s biodiversity.
