Increased salinity in the Sundarbans has reduced the growth rate of seedlings of 10 species of Plants
By Adnan Mahfuz
The Sundarbans have always been a shield for various natural calamities, including cyclones. It also reduced Cyclonic and sea-charge damage to the Southwestern part of Bangladesh and India’s South-eastern region.
The Sundarbans is Bengal’s first line of defense from the fierce storms that periodically arise in the Bay of Bengal.
But what about the world’s largest mangrove forest? According to research, salinity is increasing in the rivers, canals, and forests of the Sundarbans due to decreased downward freshwater flow.
As a result, the seedling growth rate is gradually decreasing in the top 10 species of trees, including Sundari-Garan. The forest department is also concerned about this.
This green treasure of nature always attracts travelers thirsty. The Sundarbans, a world heritage site, is a beautiful sight and a shield against disasters.
The vegetation of the Sundarbans is very different from other mangrove forests in the world. Sundari, Gewa, various species of trees, including animals, are born here.
However, the fear is that due to the increase in salinity, the seedling growth rate of at least ten species of trees, including Sundari-Garan, has been declining for several years.
According to the report of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, in 2010, on average, 5,556 seedlings of the Sundari tree grew per hectare. In 2019, it decreased to 4,192. However, only the Gewa tree has grown.
According to the Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, at least 38 percent of beautiful trees are affected by early diseases, 20 percent of the Gewa roots rot, and 50 percent of animals suffer from heart rot.
The matter also made the forest department thinking. Forest officials said at the time that the overall situation was being monitored. In the Sundarbans, 64% of the total trees are Sundari, 16% are the Gewa, and 1% are Gpashhur.
