The mangrove-dominated Ganges Delta – the Sundarbans – is the largest mangrove ecosystem in the world extending across India (40%) and Bangladesh (60%). It provides a unique ecosystem and a rich wildlife habitat. Sundarbans mangroves are home to the famous Royal Bengal Tigers; Indo-Pacific region’s largest terrestrial predator.
Sundarbans is an excellent example of the coexistence of humans with terrestrial and aquatic plant and animal life. However, this mangrove ecosystem is under threat from historical and future human exploitation and climate change. Sundarban has been extensively exploited for timber, fish, prawns and fodder. The regulation of river flows by a series of dams, barrages and embankments for diverting water upstream for various human needs and for flood control has caused large reduction in freshwater inflow severely affecting biodiversity with increased salinity and changed sedimentation.
Parts of the Sundarban in both India and Bangladesh have been declared World Heritage sites. However, its biodiversity continues to be threatened by a growing human population that places pressure on its biological resources. Oil exploration in coastal areas is also emerging as a new threat.
Socio-economic Significance of Sundarbans Mangroves
Sundarbans are highly productive mangrove wetland ecosystems, contributing to several social, financial and environmental benefits. The forests have a great role in both the country’s national economy, and provide livelihood for the local people through fishing, tourism, wood and non-wood products. It is an important resource for the people of the Ganges Delta.
The mangrove forest also plays a key role in the global ecosystem by absorbing carbon dioxide and other pollutants from air and water, offering protection to millions of people in the Ganges Delta against cyclone and water surges, stabilizing the shore line, trapping sediment and nutrients, purifying water, and providing services for human beings, such as fuel wood, medicine, food, and construction materials.However, due to the continued deterioration of the ecosystem, life has been getting harder in the Sundarbans. Many of the islands lie below the high-tide water level, meaning homes and farms are often protected by earthen embankments that are frequently breached, forcing people in further poverty.
Families are forced to venture into the dense mangrove forests – home to the royal bengal tiger – to earn their livelihoods. Evidently, there is a steady increase in the man-wild conflict in the area. “The number of reported cases of human wildlife conflict and fatalities are certainly alarming,” said Anamitra Anurag Danda, a Senior Visiting Fellow with the Observer Research Foundation think-tank. What’s worse is that many such attacks are not recorded, as families are reluctant to report them since it is illegal to go far into the forests.Taking such risks is a testament to the growing economic and ecological pressures on more than 14 million people living on the Indian and Bangladeshi sides of the low-lying Sundarbans.
Impact on Sundarbans Mangroves
The Sundarbans was originally measured (about 200 years ago) to be about 16,700 sqkm (6,400sqmi). Today it has dwindled into about 1/3 its original size. The total land area today is 4,143 sq km. Indian Sundarbans mangrove forest is considered endangered under the Red List of Ecosystems by International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).Anthropogenic and climate change-induced degradation is causing weather anomalies such as increasing number of cyclones and higher levels of storm surges as recurrent threats to mangroves in the Sundarbans.In 2007, the landfall of Cyclone Sidr damaged around 40% of the Sundarbans. Again in May 2009 Cyclone Aila devastated Sundarban with massive casualties. At least 100,000 people were affected by this cyclone. And most recently, cyclon Amphan in May 2020. Around 80% of existing tiger fencing in the Sundarbans is now damaged, with netting split and bamboo poles uprooted.The proposed coal-fired Rampal power station situated 14 km (8.7 mi) north of the Sundarbans at Rampal Upazila of Bagerhat District in Khulna, Bangladesh, is anticipated to further damage this unique mangrove forest according to a 2016 report by UNESCO.An analysis of 1891-2010 data showed the Indian Sundarbans saw a 26% rise in tropical storms, with the frequency spiking in the last decade, according to a 2020 paper in the Environment, Development and Sustainability journal by researchers from the Jamia Millia Islamia university in New Delhi. It was found that biodiversity and ecosystem of the Sundarbans is threatened due to climate change and human induced unsustainable practices.
Impact on biodiversity of Sundarbans
The Indian part of the Sundarbans supports diverse biological resources including at least 150 species of commercially important fish, 270 species of birds, 42 species of mammals, 35 reptiles and 8 amphibian species, and also includes many species which are now extinct elsewhere in the country. According to the 2015 tiger census in Bangladesh, and the 2011 tiger census in India, the Sundarbans have about 180 tigers (106 in Bangladesh and 74 in India) and about 30,000 spotted deer in the area.
The Sundarbans is an important wintering ground for migrant water birds, the area is also recognised for its suitability for studying avifauna. More importantly, mangroves are a transition from the marine to freshwater and terrestrial systems that provides critical habitat for numerous species of small fish, crabs, shrimps and other crustaceans that adapt to feed and shelter, and reproduce among the tangled mass of roots.
A study revealed that the fresh swamp forests disappeared from their historical range. Over time, the Screw Pine (Pandanus tectorius) became extinct from the study area. Simultaneously, rice grass (Leersia hexandra) and wild rice (Potresia coarctata) stand on the brink of extinction.
Sundari (Heritiera fomes), the pioneer and dominant species, suffers from the increased salinity, and its stocks are declining due to intensified “top dying” disease. In contrast, the salt lover species, notably white mangrove (Avicennia marina), enjoy the incremental hegemony. The abundance of the indicator species, NypaPalm (Nipa fruticans), and Mangrove Date Palm (Phoenix pelludosa) show a declining trend because of increased salinity.
Conservation Efforts
The strong commitment of governments under various protection measures such as forest reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and international designations, is believed to be responsible for keeping this forest relatively intact (at least in terms of area).
While the measured net loss of mangrove forest is not that high, the change matrix shows that turnover due to erosion, aggradation, reforestation and deforestation was much greater than net change. Currently, the Sundarbans are a climatically vulnerable region, exposed to severe impacts from climate change. The local government is required to work with NGOs to ensure stronger resilience in the region
Deteriorating Mangroves of Sundarbans: Assessing the Socio-Economic & Environmental Impact
The mangrove-dominated Ganges Delta – the Sundarbans – is the largest mangrove ecosystem in the world extending across India (40%) and Bangladesh (60%). It provides a unique ecosystem and a rich wildlife habitat. Sundarbans mangroves are home to the famous Royal Bengal Tigers; Indo-Pacific region’s largest terrestrial predator.
Sundarbans is an excellent example of the coexistence of humans with terrestrial and aquatic plant and animal life. However, this mangrove ecosystem is under threat from historical and future human exploitation and climate change. Sundarban has been extensively exploited for timber, fish, prawns and fodder. The regulation of river flows by a series of dams, barrages and embankments for diverting water upstream for various human needs and for flood control has caused large reduction in freshwater inflow severely affecting biodiversity with increased salinity and changed sedimentation. Parts of the Sundarban in both India and Bangladesh have been declared World Heritage sites. However, its biodiversity continues to be threatened by a growing human population that places pressure on its biological resources. Oil exploration in coastal areas is also emerging as a new threat.
Socio-economic Significance of Sundarbans Mangroves
Sundarbans are highly productive mangrove wetland ecosystems, contributing to several social, financial and environmental benefits. The forests have a great role in both the country’s national 
economy, and provide livelihood for the local people through fishing, tourism, wood and non-wood products. It is an important resource for the people of the Ganges Delta. The mangrove forest also plays a key role in the global ecosystem by absorbing carbon dioxide and other pollutants from air and water, offering protection to millions of people in the Ganges Delta against cyclone and water surges, stabilizing the shore line, trapping sediment and nutrients, purifying water, and providing services for human beings, such as fuel wood, medicine, food, and construction materials. However, due to the continued deterioration of the ecosystem, life has been getting harder in the Sundarbans. Many of the islands lie below the high-tide water level, meaning homes and farms are often protected by earthen embankments that are frequently breached, forcing people in further poverty.
Families are forced to venture into the dense mangrove forests – home to the royal bengal tiger – to earn their livelihoods. Evidently, there is a steady increase in the man-wild conflict in the area. “The number of reported cases of human wildlife conflict and fatalities are certainly alarming,” said Anamitra Anurag Danda, a Senior Visiting Fellow with the Observer Research Foundation think-tank. What’s worse is that many such attacks are not recorded, as families are reluctant to report them since it is illegal to go far into the forests. Taking such risks is a testament to the growing economic and ecological pressures on more than 14 million people living on the Indian and Bangladeshi sides of the low-lying Sundarbans.
Impact on Sundarbans Mangroves
The Sundarbans was originally measured (about 200 years ago) to be about 16,700 sqkm (6,400sqmi). Today it has dwindled into about 1/3 its original size. The total land area today is 4,143 sq km. Indian Sundarbans mangrove forest is considered endangered under the Red List of Ecosystems by International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Anthropogenic and climate change-induced degradation is causing weather anomalies such as increasing number of cyclones and higher levels of storm surges as recurrent threats to mangroves in the Sundarbans.
In 2007, the landfall of Cyclone Sidr damaged around 40% of the Sundarbans. Again in May 2009 Cyclone Aila devastated Sundarban with massive casualties. At least 100,000 people were affected by this cyclone. And most recently, cyclon Amphan in May 2020. Around 80% of existing tiger fencing in the Sundarbans is now damaged, with netting split and bamboo poles uprooted.
The proposed coal-fired Rampal power station situated 14 km (8.7 mi) north of the Sundarbans at Rampal Upazila of Bagerhat District in Khulna, Bangladesh, is anticipated to further damage this unique mangrove forest according to a 2016 report by UNESCO.
An analysis of 1891-2010 data showed the Indian Sundarbans saw a 26% rise in tropical storms, with the frequency spiking in the last decade, according to a 2020 paper in the Environment, Development and Sustainability journal by researchers from the Jamia Millia Islamia university in New Delhi.
It was found that biodiversity and ecosystem of the Sundarbans is threatened due to climate change and human induced unsustainable practices.
Impact on biodiversity of Sundarbans
The Indian part of the Sundarbans supports diverse biological resources including at least 150 species of commercially important fish, 270 species of birds, 42 species of mammals, 35 reptiles and 8 amphibian species, and also includes many species which are now extinct elsewhere in the country. According to the 2015 tiger census in Bangladesh, and the 2011 tiger census in India, the Sundarbans have about 180 tigers (106 in Bangladesh and 74 in India) and about 30,000 spotted deer in the area.
The Sundarbans is an important wintering ground for migrant water birds, the area is also recognised for its suitability for studying avifauna. More importantly, mangroves are a transition from the marine to freshwater and terrestrial systems that provides critical habitat for numerous species of small fish, crabs, shrimps and other crustaceans that adapt to feed and shelter, and reproduce among the tangled mass of roots.
A study revealed that the fresh swamp forests disappeared from their historical range. Over time, the Screw Pine (Pandanus tectorius) became extinct from the study area. Simultaneously, rice grass (Leersia hexandra) and wild rice (Potresia coarctata) stand on the brink of extinction.
Sundari (Heritiera fomes), the pioneer and dominant species, suffers from the increased salinity, and its stocks are declining due to intensified “top dying” disease. In contrast, the salt lover species, notably white mangrove (Avicennia marina), enjoy the incremental hegemony. The abundance of the indicator species, NypaPalm (Nipa fruticans), and Mangrove Date Palm (Phoenix pelludosa) show a declining trend because of increased salinity.
Conservation Efforts
The strong commitment of governments under various protection measures such as forest reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and international designations, is believed to be responsible for keeping this forest relatively intact (at least in terms of area).
While the measured net loss of mangrove forest is not that high, the change matrix shows that turnover due to erosion, aggradation, reforestation and deforestation was much greater than net change. Currently, the Sundarbans are a climatically vulnerable region, exposed to severe impacts from climate change. The local government is required to work with NGOs to ensure stronger resilience in the region