MANGROVE : The Savior of Sunderban

The Sundarbans is a cluster of low-lying islands in the Bay of Bengal, spread across India and Bangladesh, famous for its unique mangrove forests. This active delta region is among the largest in the world, measuring about 40,000 sq km. The Sundarbans forest is about 10,000 sq km across India and Bangladesh,of which 40% lies in India. While it supports a sizeable population of wild tigers and other wildlife, it is also an ecologically fragile and climatically vulnerable region that is home to over 4.5 million people.

Like many mangrove areas, these coastal forests provide vital protection for millions of people from climate change impacts, cyclones, tidal surges, and coastal erosion. Mangroves are known to be among the most effective natural barriers against flooding. Mangrove is shrub type of plants. The density of this forest (per 25 square fit there is 25 trees) is so deep to explore. Mangrove remains green all through the year. It is also the home for some of the wildlife animals such as wild boar, Baghrol (Fishing cat), Deer, various types of Snakes, insects and a large number of birds.

Vast swathes of mangroves forest in the Sunderbans have been ravaged by the super cyclone AMPHAN that had stuck the state on 20^th May, 20. Mostly the South Eastern and middle parts are severely damaged. The upper branches of those trees are torn by AMPHAN but could not uproot them. Aftermath of AMPHAN burned this vast forest turning it into brown colour. Damages in Xylem tissue caused the trees to turn brown. Mangrove existence is very much important for Sunderban to survive and for the ecosystem of this coastal region, as one or two gigantic waves are enough to perish this region from the map of West Bengal.

Mangrove has saved many of the mud houses those lies close to the mangrove forest. Surprisingly AMPHAN destructed so many houses those are far from this forest region but could not do any harm to the houses near the forest. Not only mankind but also the wild animals that inhabits in it are saved by Mangrove.