Sunderbans must be saved
Monday, 23 July 2007
Borhanuddin Ahmed
SUNDARBANS located in the south-west of the country is the pride of Bangladesh. This forest land is considered to be the biggest mangrove forest of its type in the world. The UNESCO in 1997 gave recognition to the Sunderbans as part of the world's heritage to be preserved from any harm.
The forest region is a money-spinner. Every year, thousands of tourists -- both local and foreign ones -- come to this part of Bangladesh to satisfy their craving for eco-tourism. Large quantities of fishes are caught from the rivers and water bodies in the Sunderbans region and nearly three lakh fishermen are engaged in these activities. Some 15 to 16 thousand tonnes of honey are harvested annually from the Sunderbans and also other forest-based products. There are some 3,500 species of trees and vegetation here and 4,500 species of wildlife and for this unique bio-diversity alone it was identified by the UNESCO as worth protecting.
But the Sunderbans is facing threats from many sources. The forest is in the coastal area which is facing increasing salinity as a consequence of lean flows of rivers that fail to push out the saline sea water surges inland. The Sunderbans is criss-crossed by rivers and their tributaries which have been afflicted by this condition. The Sundari trees cover a large part of this forest land but these trees have been dying progressively with rots taking hold of them at the top and then spreading downwards. This phenomenon is called 'top-dying' and linked to excess saline waters creeping into the underground water tables.
Apart from the salinity, human greed and plunder play no small a part in the destruction of the forest. It has shrunk considerably over the years from cutting down of trees and vegetation, notwithstanding that this is a reserved forest where such activities are illegal. The area of the Sunderbans is now only 6,017 sq.km. which is far smaller compared to its previous size. The forest areas in recent years have been also facing threats from the break-out of fires. Fire incidents destroyed parts of the forest in 2004 and 2005. The latest fire spreading over 1 sq.km. raged in the Sunderbans for about a week .
Clearly, urgent steps are required to save Bangladesh's biggest forest when forests have largely disappeared in different parts of the country. The first task in order should be ensuring that forest department employees do their job sincerely. They will have to be made truly accountable for what they do or do not do that lead to destruction of the forest in any form. The government should engage in talks with the neighbouring country so that dry season flows of the rivers in this area can increase with India's cooperation. This would be the most effective way of reducing salinity.
SUNDARBANS located in the south-west of the country is the pride of Bangladesh. This forest land is considered to be the biggest mangrove forest of its type in the world. The UNESCO in 1997 gave recognition to the Sunderbans as part of the world's heritage to be preserved from any harm.
The forest region is a money-spinner. Every year, thousands of tourists -- both local and foreign ones -- come to this part of Bangladesh to satisfy their craving for eco-tourism. Large quantities of fishes are caught from the rivers and water bodies in the Sunderbans region and nearly three lakh fishermen are engaged in these activities. Some 15 to 16 thousand tonnes of honey are harvested annually from the Sunderbans and also other forest-based products. There are some 3,500 species of trees and vegetation here and 4,500 species of wildlife and for this unique bio-diversity alone it was identified by the UNESCO as worth protecting.
But the Sunderbans is facing threats from many sources. The forest is in the coastal area which is facing increasing salinity as a consequence of lean flows of rivers that fail to push out the saline sea water surges inland. The Sunderbans is criss-crossed by rivers and their tributaries which have been afflicted by this condition. The Sundari trees cover a large part of this forest land but these trees have been dying progressively with rots taking hold of them at the top and then spreading downwards. This phenomenon is called 'top-dying' and linked to excess saline waters creeping into the underground water tables.
Apart from the salinity, human greed and plunder play no small a part in the destruction of the forest. It has shrunk considerably over the years from cutting down of trees and vegetation, notwithstanding that this is a reserved forest where such activities are illegal. The area of the Sunderbans is now only 6,017 sq.km. which is far smaller compared to its previous size. The forest areas in recent years have been also facing threats from the break-out of fires. Fire incidents destroyed parts of the forest in 2004 and 2005. The latest fire spreading over 1 sq.km. raged in the Sunderbans for about a week .
Clearly, urgent steps are required to save Bangladesh's biggest forest when forests have largely disappeared in different parts of the country. The first task in order should be ensuring that forest department employees do their job sincerely. They will have to be made truly accountable for what they do or do not do that lead to destruction of the forest in any form. The government should engage in talks with the neighbouring country so that dry season flows of the rivers in this area can increase with India's cooperation. This would be the most effective way of reducing salinity.