Climatic and anthropogenic challenges in Sundarban biosphere reserve and plausible roads to sustainability
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The Sundarban Biosphere Reserve (SBR), a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the Indian part of the largest pristine mangrove forest in the lower Gangetic Delta. The core area of SBR is the abode of the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger and the transitional area is heavily populated by 4.37 million people (2011 census), 34 % of whom are below the poverty level with an average monthly income of 62 US$. Our recent surveys reveal that a substantial number of poor and marginal people depend on forest goods - honey, crab, fuelwood, shrimp seed, and river fishing for their sustenance and livelihood. However, driven by the global seafood market and local poverty, there has been a significant increase in the aquaculture land from 3.59% in 1999 to 5.52% of total SBR in 2019, engulfing more than 1000 ha of mangrove forest, 2300 ha of mudflat, and 24000 ha of agricultural land, weakening the coastline at many places. SBR is the seat of frequent tropical cyclones and flood surges. Within the last 15 years, 4 super cyclones with floods have ravaged the landscape affecting the vitality and health of both humans and mangroves. Prawn seed and crab collection using thin nylon dragnets are disastrous for mangrove regeneration and restoration damaging seedlings and several aquatics irrevocably with negative impacts on UN SDG 13, 14, and 15. Adding to it, aquaculture ponds of the SBR can emit almost 5,21,02,87,00,000 micromole CO2 per year (22ton CO2 per hour ≈ 1,92,720 ton CO2 per year). The flourishing of aquaculture ponds at the expense of mangroves, hence, not only results in a one-time loss of sequestered carbon by the pre-existing mangroves over centuries but also a land-use which acts as a steady CO2 emitter. For Sustainable development of the Sundarbans, strict enforcement of the existing forest and coastal legislation coupled with the establishment of the state-of-art hatcheries, and promotion of organic shrimp farming preferably with the mangrove-aquaculture farming model is suggested.
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