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Sundarban, The Hidden Paradise in The Coastal Bay of Bengal
Spread across an area of 2,600,000 km2, the Bay of Bengal is bordered by countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia. Located in the coastal region of the Bay of Bengal, exactly at the mouth of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna Rivers, sits Sundarban, the world’s biggest delta, which consists of 10,200 km2 of mangrove forest, of which 60% is in Bangladesh and the rest in India. Spread over India and Bangladesh, Sundarban is the largest mangrove forest on the Earth, where freshwater meets seawater, an iconic landmark of heritage in the coastal Bay of Bengal.
The name Sundarban originates from the Bengali language, with "Sundar" meaning "beautiful" and "ban" meaning "forest" or "jungle." It is also widely attributed to the tree species locally known as Sundari (Heritiera fomes), which dominates roughly 70% of the mangrove flora.
Sundarban, which consists of an area of 139,700 ha, is also known for its exceptional numbers of fauna. The unique tidal and estuarine landscape supports a diverse array of rare and threatened animal species such as 260 bird species, several mammals including the Gangetic Dolphin (Platinista gangetica) and Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris), reptiles such as the Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodilus porosus), Indian Rock Python (Python molurus), Water Monitor Lizard (Varanus salvator), Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas), and other various indigenous fauna that live in the region.
Sundarban in West Bengal, India, is the southernmost part of the estuarine delta, located just south of the Tropic of Cancer between the latitudes 21°51' and 22°31'N, and longitudes 88°10' and 89°51'E. In 1987, UNESCO awarded Sundarban National Park in West Bengal the status of World Heritage Site for its outstanding beauty and magnificent biodiversity, covering the core area of Sundarban Tiger Reserve, the single largest home of the Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris) in the world.
Deep within the core area of the Sundarban Tiger Reserve in West Bengal, India, lie the centuries-old Netidhopani, forest-covered ruins of ancient Hindu temples. Netidhopani is an enigmatic historical and wildlife site, an evidence of human civilization reclaimed by the largest mangrove forest, whispering historical tales amid the wilderness of the Bay of Bengal.
Role of Mangroves in Coastal Ecology and Economy
Mangroves are essential coastal trees that act as a natural bridge between land and sea, protecting shorelines and supporting diverse marine ecosystems. Mangroves behave as a barrier against storms, cyclones, tidal surges, and intrusion, protecting against winds and waves. The delta’s mangroves have helped the fragile area to prevent further damage from climate change, forming a vital natural defense shield against tropical cyclones and coastal erosion in the Bay of Bengal.
Estimated four million people in the Bay of Bengal depend on their livelihood from the rich resources of the Sundarban, categorized as wood collectors, honey collectors, crab, shrimp, and fish collectors, which have evolved over time. The vast amount of mangroves also provides raw material for paper, wood, and furniture industries, supplying a variety of goods and services to the local people.
However, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed the Indian Sundarban as "endangered" in 2020. In 2007, Cyclone Sidr hit Sundarban and caused around 40% damage to the coastal area. Followed by 2020’s Super Cyclone Amphan, the area has been severely damaged by continuous cyclones and the rising sea temperature.
Tuhin Ghosh, a professor at Jadavpur University, noted to The Hindu that “agriculture is becoming a kind of loss business” in the Sundarban, posing a direct threat to the coastal community. Therefore, protecting mangrove ecosystems is indeed crucial for the sustainability of environmental conservation and shore protection, as well as the livelihood of the people across the Bay of Bengal.