Sundarbans | |
---|---|
![]() Inside the sundarbans | |
Location of the Sundarbans, spanning the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta | |
Location | Khulna Division, Bangladesh Presidency division, West Bengal, India |
Nearest city | Basirhat, Diamond Harbour, Haldia, Khulna, Kolkata, Bagerhat, Patuakhali, Barguna, Satkhira |
Coordinates | 21°45′N 88°45′E / 21.750°N 88.750°E |
Area | 10,277 km2 (3,968 sq mi)[note 1] |
Governing body | Government of Bangladesh (58.55%), Government of India (41.45%) |
Official name | Sundarbans National Park |
Location | Presidency division, West Bengal, India |
Includes | |
Criteria | Natural: (ix)(x) |
Reference | 452 |
Inscription | 1987 (11th Session) |
Area | 133,010 ha (513.6 sq mi) |
Coordinates | 21°56′42″N 88°53′45″E / 21.94500°N 88.89583°E |
Official name | The Sundarbans |
Location | Khulna Division, Bangladesh |
Includes | |
Criteria | Natural: (ix)(x) |
Reference | 798 |
Inscription | 1997 (21st Session) |
Area | 139,500 ha (539 sq mi) |
Coordinates | 21°57′N 89°11′E / 21.950°N 89.183°E |
Official name | Sundarbans Reserved Forest |
Designated | 21 May 1992 |
Reference no. | 560[4] |
Official name | Sundarban Wetland |
Designated | 30 January 2019 |
Reference no. | 2370[5] |
Sundarbans (pronounced /sʌnˈdɑːrbənz/) is a mangrove area in the delta formed by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers in the Bay of Bengal. Spread across parts of India and Bangladesh, this forest is the largest mangrove forest in the world.[6] It spans the area from the Baleswar River in Bangladesh's division of Khulna to the Hooghly River in India's state of West Bengal. It comprises closed and open mangrove forests, land used for agricultural purpose, mudflats and barren land, and is intersected by multiple tidal streams and channels. Sundarbans is home to the world's largest area of mangrove forests.[7] Four protected areas in the Sundarbans are enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, viz. Sundarbans West (Bangladesh), Sundarbans South (Bangladesh), Sundarbans East (Bangladesh) and Sundarbans National Park (India).[8]
Despite the protected status, the Indian Sundarbans were considered endangered in a 2020 assessment under the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems framework.[9] The Sundarbans mangrove forest covers an area of about 10,277 km2 (3,968 sq mi), of which forests in Bangladesh's Khulna Division extend over 6,017 km2 (2,323 sq mi)[1] and in West Bengal's Presidency division, they extend over 4,260 km2 (1,640 sq mi) across the South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas districts.[2][3] The most abundant tree species are sundri (Heritiera fomes) and gewa (Excoecaria agallocha). The forests provide habitat to 453 fauna wildlife, including 290 bird, 120 fish, 42 mammal, 35 reptile and eight amphibian species.[10] Despite a total ban on all killing or capture of wildlife other than fish and some invertebrates, there has been a consistent pattern of depleted biodiversity or loss of species in the 20th century, with the ecological quality of the forest declining.[11]
Despite preservation commitments from both governments, the Sundarbans are under threat from both natural and human-made causes. In 2007, the landfall of Cyclone Sidr damaged around 40% of the Sundarbans. The forest is also suffering from increased salinity caused by sea level rise due to effects of climate change and reduced freshwater supply. In May 2009, Cyclone Aila devastated the Sundarbans with massive casualties. At least 100,000 people were affected by this cyclone.[12][13] 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.[14] Climate change is expected to continue to negatively affect both natural systems and human populations in the region, resulting in further ecosystem degradation and climate migration. Experts examining the region recommend further focus on mangrove restoration and management and advocating for adaptation of human populations, through processes like managed retreat and investments in resilient infrastructure.[15]
Cite error: There are <ref group=note>
tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=note}}
template (see the help page).
© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search