[ad_1]
Representational Image
(IANS)
The Royal Bengal Tiger, an ecologically rare biodiversity, and the largest mangrove forest in the world, is home to the World Heritage Site.
Locals lament the fact that many islands have become a concrete jungle over the past few years. New plush resorts and other real-estate structures are distinctly disturbing the natural landscape.
This, combined with the devastating cyclones that have decimated Sundarbans forests in recent decades, has left 54 of the 102 islands’ inhabitants in constant fear of losing their livelihoods.
“Several islands are still waiting for embankments to be built as a buffer against natural catastrophes. However, our islands are in greater danger due to rampant real estate development in order to attract more tourists,” Sayantan, 30 said to IANS.
These mangrove forests cover nearly 10,000 km. Only a little more than 4,000 km are in India and the rest are in Bangladesh. The Sundarbans National Park was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.
Home to over 4.5 million people and many rare and globally threatened wildlife species, like the estuarine crocodile, water monitor lizard, Gangetic dolphin and Olive Ridley turtle — not to forget the Royal Bengal Tiger, whose number rests at 96 on the Indian side of the Sundarbans as per counting last year — the low-lying islands are facing an existential crisis.
The massive cyclone Amphan, which ravaged large parts of the deltaic Sundarbans, decimated thousands of residents on the islands in May 2020.
The saline water filled all agricultural lands and all water bodies, and people who depended on cattle farming, fisheries, or vegetation for their livelihoods were in serious trouble.
Last May, Cyclone “Yaas” caused extensive damage to the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve. It also inundated breeding centers for crocodiles as well as a rare species of turtle.
Locals claim that saltwater has entered agricultural lands due to poor management of modern dams. This makes them unsuitable for cultivation.
Nylon net fencing and natural barriers that were meant to stop tigers entering human habitations were also heavily damaged by the storms. The damage can still be seen in several places.
The invasion of Royal Bengal Tigers into villages continues, and the Sundarbans maneaters are now free to attack humans because their habitats have been lost to climate change.
Sanjib, a local guide, said that the nylon net fencing was no longer effective in keeping tigers away form human-inhabited islands because they are not afraid of it.
“Their brains are now adapted for this new world where net fencing doesn’t pose a threat to them. They can easily cross the fences left open by fishermen and people entering core forests zones to catch crabs/prawns or honey collection. Sanjib explained to IANS that Tigers have also been drinking saline water over the years which has affected their bodies.
According to media reports, 43 crab catchers were killed by tigers over the past seven months in Sundarbans.
If realistic steps are not taken, locals fear that the delta could disappear one day.
West Bengal has seen an increase in tiger attacks. The main reason for this conflict is the loss of habitat.
The West Bengal government is now planning to construct a strong, ecologically sustainable bio-shield’ along its coastline and Sundarbans islands in order to reduce erosion of natural barriers.
The goal is to build earth dams and plant 36 species of resilient mangrove plants. Also, geotextile coverings will be used on embankments as well as the second line of embankments along the east-facing indented coastline. This is where erosion is the most severe.
The Bengal delta region is where the sea level rises the most. This is where climate change has the greatest impact.
Between 2006 and 2015 the global mean sea level has been rising by 3.6 mm per annum. According to the latest reports, the sea level off Bengal is rising at about 4 mm per years.
The Sundarbans is carved out of two West Bengal districts — South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas. The alluvial archipelago is made up of 56 riverine islands.
Sundarbans delta is considered one of the most fragile and richest ecosystems on the planet. It is formed by the Ganga’s myriad branches. It has forest tracts that extend 130 km inland from its coastline.
**
The headline and text of the above article were published by a wire agency.
