Are we able to conserve the Sundarbans?

Although yesterday, Wednesday (February 14th), was celebrated globally as Valentine's Day, the people living in the Sundarbans region observed the day as "Sundarbans Day". The Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest in the world, located in the coastal region of the Bay of Bengal. The conservation of biodiversity in the Sundarbans has been the focus of efforts to raise public awareness, particularly in the southwestern region including Khulna, for the past two decades. ‘"Love Sundarbans on World Love Day" - This slogan has been observed annually as Sundarbans Day in the coastal areas for years.

The existence of the Sundarbans can be traced back to ancient times. Both geology and history suggest that the Sundarbans began to form nearly two thousand years ago in the Gangetic region. Evidence of the Sundarbans' existence can also be found in the travel accounts of a missionary named Nicholas Pymenta. Due to the changes of time, the world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans, is now brought under scientific management. Following the establishment of the Bengal Forest Department under British rule, the Sundarbans was declared a protected forest under the Forest Act of 1865 in 1875-76. However, can we currently conserve the Sundarbans effectively?

The beauty, wealth and richness of the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, are disappearing. "In recent times, although deforestation has ceased in the forest, poaching of deer meat and tiger skins continues unabated. Pollutants from the rivers and canals, along with the use of poison for fishing, are destroying aquatic habitats. Additionally, the lack of eco-friendly tourism exacerbates pollution in the forest. Consequently, the diverse wildlife of this forest is now facing a serious threat.

The Forest Department reports that tiger census is currently underway in the 6,017 square kilometers area of the Sundarbans in Bangladesh, which is in its final stages. It is expected that the number of tigers will increase in the census this time. However, according to the 2023 census, the population of spotted deer, wild boars, and monkeys in the forest has increased.

In 1995 there were 150 to 200 crocodiles in the forest river, the 2016 survey showed 150 to 205 crocodiles. However, two species of dolphins have declined. Besides, deforestation and environmental degradation in the forest continue unabated.

Although many have been arrested for the crime of cutting trees, killing tigers and deer, as well as smuggling in the Sundarbans. These poachers are very powerful. People are afraid to testify against them. They use this opportunity to escape the loopholes of the law and indulge in crime again.

The hope is that currently, those providing information about perpetrators involved in crimes against wildlife in the Sundarbans are being rewarded. As a result, if someone hunts deer, that information is being made public. For this reason, the administration is able to apprehend some wrongdoers. However, the destruction of the forest environment and the killing of animals persist unchecked.

On the other hand, although the foresters have been freed from the hands of the Sundarbans forest bandits, the Sundarbans are not getting rid of the poison produced by the foresters. As a result, once a canal is poisoned to catch fish, no fish can be found in that canal for the next 15 days, and even fish eggs or fry cannot be found.

Basically, local influential individuals and businessmen collude with a corrupt cycle within the administration to organize events of tiger, deer, and forest destruction year after year. When such matters are brought up in the media, some initiatives and apparent diligence are shown by the relevant authorities. Then, the same incidents happen again.

It must be remembered that this forest protects us from natural disasters. Therefore, there is no alternative to take strict action against those involved in these activities to prevent illegal fishing, killing and trafficking of wild animals.