The Mangrove forests of the
Sundarbans are experiencing rapid deterioration which has resulted in over 200
meters of coast disappearing within the time span of a single year.
The Sundarbans, the worlds
largest area of mangrove forest, is a natural shield for India and Bangladesh.
It is home to an extremely rich and diverse ecosystem with almost 500 species
of reptile, fish, bird and mammals. Among these animals lives the Bengal tiger,
an animal currently endangered and facing extinction.
Scientists from the Zoological
Society of London state that the natural protection from tidal waves and
cyclones that the Sundarbans offers is being degraded due to human development
and the steady rise of the global temperature. This deterioration is predicted
to inevitably lead to loss of species richness if action is not taken soon.
The Zoological Society of
London’s tiger conservation expert, Sarah Christie, says: “The Sundarbans is
a critical tiger habitat; one of only a handful of remaining forests big enough
to hold several hundred tigers. To lose the Sundarbans would be to move a step
closer to the extinction of these majestic animals."
As well as acting as a natural shield from
tsunamis and cyclones, mangroves are rare, comprising less than 1% of all
forests across the world, and are the most carbon rich forests in the tropics.
The degradation of these forests would reduce our ability to adapt to
previously predicted climatic conditions.
The Zoological Society of London’s Chief
Mangrove Scientific Advisor Jurgenne Primavera says: "Mangrove protection
is urgent given the continuing threats to the world's remaining 14 to 15
million hectares of mangroves from aquaculture, land development and
over-exploitation. The recently established IUCN SSC Mangrove Specialist Group,
hosted by ZSL, will develop a global conservation strategy for mangroves based
on an assessment of research and conservation needs."
I believe it should be a priority to protect
the mangrove forests from washing away. Not only is it home to the Bengal tiger,
it is also a natural barrier from tsunamis and other natural disasters. The
degradation of mangroves may result in an increase of natural disasters as well
as a decrease in species richness. The word “Sundarban” means “beautiful forest”
in the Bengali language. We must ensure that the mangrove forests of the
Sundarban will always live up to it’s name
Two hundred meters of coast line could serve as a huge prevention to soil erosion, and an excellent barrier to tsunamis and natural disasters. It makes me crazy when people do not think about how nature works and what effects would occur if something is removed. Everything in nature has a role and nature itself for years was successful in sustaining itself and the species in its area.
ReplyDeleteKerim, be sure that you include the link to the website and who wrote the article. This is important so credit is given to the author.
I agree that more attention should be paid to protecting the mangrove forests. Especially when you consider that they are protection from tsunamis - I really don't get how people don't think about such points until it's too late, and a lot of times not even then.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that the preservation of the Sundarban forests is extremely important. If it is deforested even further, it could endanger many species, such as the Bengal Tiger, which could wreak havoc on the ecosystems equilibrium, as well as increase the destruction of tsunamis.
ReplyDelete