Mangrove Forest | The Sundarbans Forest
The word 'mangrove' originated from the Portuguese word 'mangue' and the English word 'grove'.The Mangroves are clusters of diverse trees and shrubs that grow in tidal coasts.The Mangroves are clusters of diverse trees and shrubs that grow in tidal coasts. This tangle of groves which are salt tolerant stabilise the coastline, reduce erosion from storm surges,currents, waves and tides.The intricate root system of mangroves is home to a alot of organisms. While mangrove forests protect the interior from disasters like tsunamis and hurricanes, they also cause a large amount of damage from these disasters. The recent cyclone in Bengal has not only caused a huge havoc in Bengal but it has damaged about 28% of the Sundarbans.
The Sundarbans in the Bay of Bengal is a group of low-lying islands,spread across the coast of India and Bangladesh. It holds the world's largest mangrove forest with an area of about ten thousand sq km of which 60% is in Bangladesh and the rest in India. This is UNESCO world heritage site that lies on the delta of the Ganges,Meghna and Brahmaputra rivers on the Bay of Bengal includes 3 wildlife sanctuaries. As one of the largest remaining areas of mangroves in the world,the Sundarbans holds an exceptional level of biodiversity.It is known for its wide range of fauna, including innumerable species of birds,the Bengal tiger and many other threatened species like salt water crocodiles and Indian python.
Sundarbans which is also home to over five million people is an ecologically fragile and climatically vulnerable region. The Sundarbans provides sustainable livelihoods to millions of people and acts as a protective barrier for its inhabitants from storms, cyclones, tidal surges, sea water seepage and intrusion. This area faces extreme weather events of increasing intensity over the last few years.
In 2007, Cyclone Sidr hit Sundarbans and caused around 40% damage to the ecologically fragile area. It was struck by cyclone Aila in 2009 resulting in massive casualties. In 2019, Cyclone Bulbul hit Sundarbans but did not cause as much damage as Sidr and Alia did. But recently on May 20, super cyclone Amphan took a trail over Sundarbans resulting in
a massive destruction. Winds blowing at over 150 kmph hit the Sundarbans by the time the cyclone had made its land fall . Authorities are still trying to assess the extent of damage caused by Cyclone Amphan on Sundarbans. Over 4 million people staying in the North
24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas were badly affected by cyclone Amphan. Experts say that the delta’s mangroves have helped to reduce the intensity of the cyclone hitting the coastal communities in the area like always. But the damage caused by cyclone Amphan on the wildlife is clearly high.
The flooding due to cyclones or storms and the rise of sea level has resulted in high levels of salination in the delta making it completely unusable for farming. The degrading health of mangroves affects the irresilience and recovery potential against climate change consequences. As the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are expected to increase it is very important to conserve the mangroves forests of the Sundarbans for future.
The Sundarbans forest is spread in Bangladesh and India in the ratio of 60:40. It covers an area of about 10,000 square kilometres of both countries. Due to the abundance of beautiful trees found here, it is known as the Sundarbans. The Sundarbans are predominantly covered with mangrove forests, the mangrove forests are spread over an area of 4263 square kilometres. To reduce the damage caused by the infestation, it has been targeted to plant 3.5 crore mangroves here from the World Environment Day till 14 July 2020. However, critics believe that the restoration of damaged mangrove forests may take several years.
Mangrove forests are forests that grow in warm and subtropical areas in coasts, estuaries, lagoons, punk deposits, sorghum creeks and backwaters, which protect coastal areas through the traps of their roots. The origin of these is believed to be in India and the adjoining region, that is why their density is also found more here. They are resistant to salt and their roots also separate some amount of salt from water. Their roots are called 'pneumatophores'. These roots exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. Due to these roots, saltwater not only grows here but also grows fast.
Indonesia, Brazil, Australia, Nigeria, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, India are among the countries with the most mangroves in the world today. It is spread over 4900 square kilometres in India. Their distribution is not the same even in India. On the east coast, it is found at 58-60%, followed by 22-24% in the Arabian Sea and 16-18% in the island region. West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra are the major mangrove states. Ganges- Delta of Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, Kaveri rivers is famous for mangroves. The Sundarbans are recognized as Tiger Reserve, National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sadly, more than half of the world’s mangrove forests have been destroyed by flawed developmental activities. It is possible to reverse this damage and restore these vital biodiversity vaults. Small but significant efforts are sprouting up, regenerating the woodland of the sea shores which is home to many.Mangroves, the guardians of the coasts.
IMPORTANCE OF MANGROVE FORESTS
Mangroves plays vital role in our daily lives. Researches and studies have placed Mangroves among the most important ecosystems on earth.They make up a transitional zone between sea and land anchoring shore lines while buffering coastal ecosystems against hurricanes and tsunamis.
Mangroves protect coral reefs from sedimentation, sequester massive amounts of carbon to
combat climate change, adapt to rising sea levels, serve as nurseries and a vital food source for marine life while providing critical habitat for endangered species.
Mangroves also provide invaluable green economy services for humans. The future of mangroves very much depends on us and in fact our future is co-dependent on the survival
of these critical habitats.
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