Sundarbans, the biggest mangrove forest, is being destroyed due to climate change
The devastated Sundarbans! It looks like a catastrophic storm has hit this forest recently. But no, Bengal’s lung Sundarbans are being destroyed like this without any storm.
Beautiful Jamtola Sea-beach of Sundarbans. Here, wherever the eye can see only the ruins of trees. Even the trees that are standing have no roots. However, the trees are holding the earth.
Not only in Jamtola but also in Kotka Beach is being destroyed. The trees and the forest department’s structure have collapsed here. The last attempt is being made with sand-filled geotextile bags to protect the seabeach.
A review of Sundarbans maps from 2000 and 2022 from Google Earth shows that the region has lost a lot of forest in the last 22 years. The sea has entered the forest. On the other hand, trees are dying in
Katka forest due to extreme tides, sand enters the forest and covers the roots of the trees, and the forest is being changed into a desert.
Climatologists say this is the visible effect of climate change. The rising sea level is slowly swallowing the Sundarbans. After the forest, it will also affect the township.
In 2007, Cyclone Sidr severely hit the coast of Bangladesh. At this time, Sundarbans protected Bangladesh by its chest. Still, this natural forest is constantly depleting while dealing with small and large cyclonic storms and sea surges.
