Mangrove and its People - Observing through the Sustainability Lens

In this article, Rangeet Mitra says mangroves are the only natural remedy for the people of Sundarbans in West Bengal state in India. Restoring mangroves will save the people and environment of Sundarbans.

- Rangeet Mitra

Natural calamities have detrimental effects on the ecosystem of the Sundarbans. Millions of people have lost their lives and livelihoods because of cyclones and COVID-19 related impacts. Mangroves, a special tree species which breeds in salty soils and estuarian zone, are the unique feature of this area. These types of trees protect Sundarbans from natural disasters. Sundarbans, the world’s largest contiguous mangrove forest and UNESCO World Heritage Site, has strong historical values. But after independence and in recent years, because of increasing anthropogenic pollution, the biodiversity of this unique forest has been deteriorating gradually. As per a recent report, 54 out of 102 islands are populated by human settlements and it is one of the key reasons behind the destruction of forest resources. Due to global warming and climate change, every year locals have been fighting against natural disasters such as floods and cyclones.

River erosion is also an unsolved issue in this area. Even concrete dams could not prevent river erosions and floods. In the absence of mangroves, salinity and river erosion have destroyed local agricultural activities. Day by day, the forest has been losing its green areas mainly because of urban developmental activities.