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SUNDARBANS IS DYING !

An effective resource management system has to be evolved to save the world's largest mangrove forest that has been declining at an alarming speed over the past 30 years.

Shamsul Anwar
THE world's largest mangrove forest Is in Ban gladcsh. Tntc to Its name It is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Spra wling over a mudflat of 5770 square kilometres (sq.km.) il Is not only the largest forest block (about 40%) of Bangladesh but also a challenge and opportunity lor foresters, ecologists, economists, rcso urce managers, conscrvatt onists. environmentalists, and a host of other subject specialists. Out of its total area nearly one third i.e. 1820 sq km is river. In the past this forest (mangrove) ecosystem extended far north in Jessorc, Khulna and Barisal districts, In addition to 24 Pargana district In West Bengal (India). Large scale deforestation was made by the British during 19th century. The present area is bounded, on the north by a number of small streams (k Jich are silting up) on the east by Baleswar river, on the south by Bay of Bengal and oh the west by the Raimangal and Harinbhanga rivets the midstreams of which constitute the international boundary between Bangladesh and India.
As early as 1903 Dr David Prain listed 198 species of plants in the Sundarbans. 11>e most Important of these Is Sundari (Herltlera minor) which constitute about 77% of the total overwood. The next important species is Gewa (Excaecaria azallocha) which account for nearly 20%, of tree population. The remaining 3% comprises of Keora (Sonn erasla a petala) Passur (Carapu momccensis). Barn (Avtccnta offlllnatls) Goran (Ceriops Roxburghiana). Kankta (Bruguiera gymnorhiza) and the omnipresent stemless palm Golpata (Nlpa frutlcans). In addition there arc a large number of ferns, moss, lichens, algae. fungll bacteria
The fauna of the Sundarbans is equally nch. These are (I) spotted deers (Axls axis) -80.000. (2) Wiki boats (Sus scrofora) - 20.000 (3) Royal Bengal Tigers (Panthera t> gris)- 350 to 450 (4) Rhesus monkev (Macaca mullall i) -43.000. (5) Smooth Indian ..t Kl (Lutra perspieillaia) -
20.000. (6) Estuarine
crocodiles (Crocodilus poro-sus)— 100. Snakes (cobra, python, vipers etc.)— 30 species. Birds (including seasonal visitors)— 186 species. Fish— 400 species, and estuarine and marine turtles.
The Status of Mangrove Ecosystem
This collection of flora and fauna have to be viewed as components of a system i.e.. the mangrove ecosystem and not as discreet individuals or populations. The mangrove ecosystem grow on the mudflats at this Interface of big rivers and the sea. A positive successionai regime from grass to big trees is identifiable. The big trees in turn create a microclimate on the forest floor which is conducive for survival, growth and conservation of the
entire mangrove ecosystem. In this ecosystem every individual acts on its neighbour and asso elate and is acted upon by its neighbour and associates In a series of nutrition cycles of which man and the carnivores are the end users. The surplus of nutrients and bye products flow to Bay of Bengal and support three rich fishing grounds By and large the system would be stable within limits of scicntifir manipula tion by man. Unfortunately. Ixtwevcr. this stability Is being lost during the last 30 years The world famous mangrove 'ecosystem of the Sundarbans Is manifesting signs of dying in-< Ipicntly and at places overtly and clearly The following dts < usslon of dying back of SundariMins mangrove ecosystem Is a positive pointer
An inventory of the growing slot k of the Sundarbans was marie In 1958 This investigation revealed the stock post Hon of the main crop as fol-
,i Sundari — 13.04 million cubic metres.
b. Gewa — 3.30
(G.O.B. records)
A second Inventory was made during 1985 at which the stock position was revealed to be
a. Sundari — 7.87 million cubic metres.
b. Gewa — 1.82
(G.O.B. records)
This'means that stocking of Sundari has been reduced by 40% while that of Gewa has been reduced by 45% during the last 30 years. Under scientific management of forests, bank deposit scheme is applied whereby the principle Is left intact, but the interest in the form of Increment Is taken out as the yield from conserved forest.
Under such rigid condition the growing stock should have remained Intact if not in-
creased. Consequently, it must be concluded that felling has been far in excess of increase, resulting in depletion of the growing stocks l.e.. the forest capital. The GOB records of annual felling Indicate this situation.
During the fast 30 years mature and sub-mature Sundari trees are dying back from top downwards in ever-widening' circles The damage is almost In epidemic proportion and Is believed to be caused by diseases. Neither any comprehensive survey has been made to study the extent and cause of damage nor any remedial mea-sure has been undertaken as yet. Only the diseased trees are being removed, which is no solution against the epidemic.
Of late it has been reported that theft of forest produce is rampant all over the Sundarbans. which was unknown in the past. This situation is further confounded due to weak law and regulation, understaffed administrative machinery and outdated fogls lit support (launches, boats, riverc raft, communication and supply machinery).
At the UNESCO Regional Seminar on Human uses of the Mangrove Environment and Management Implications (Dhaka 1978) it was unanimously decided that a Regional Mangrove Research Institute should be established in Bangladesh under assistance of
UNESCO and management of Government of Bangladesh. This decision is yet to see the light of the day.
Remedial Measures
It may be asked by many why there should be so much interest in Sundarbans when there are other priority issues awaiting solution. The answer is the Sundarbans is more important than it looks from the point of view of environment, sociology, economics and scientific management. For example. during the last 200 years, the coastal districts (Barisal. Noakhali. Chittagong) have been battered by tropical cyclones 35 times with colossal damage to life and property. But the damage to greater Khulna district which is in the lee of Sundarbans during the same period has been minimal.
Again the Sundarbans has been providing direct employment to about one hundred thousand people during peak working season. This sets a chain of economic activity through transportation, marketing and processing of raw materials in mills and factories. The net benefit reaches to no less than 5 million people in south and south-west and middle of Bangladesh. Lastly, if the forest cover of Sundarbans goes below a critical level the life process and nutrition cycles would be seriously impaired leading to extinction of important species of flora and fauna, as has happened tn Chokoria. Sundarbans and Teknaf. Cox's Bazar district (The Dally Star. August 5 and 10. 1991). In order to obviate such a dangerous situation the following suggestions are offered tn all humility as concluding remarks, by this retired forester, to whom conservation of forests is an article of a faith.
Firstly, an inventory audit of 1985 Inventory should be undertaken to ascertain the population status of Important species of trees and the extent of damage due to die back of Sundari. This Is to assist future technical policy formulation for Sundarbans
Secondly. It Is of immediate importance to undertake biometric studies to ascertain rate of Increment of biomass of important species of trees (flora) Henceforward not more than 75% of the increment should be allowed to be taken out in annual harvest The balance 25% of Increment should be retained for at least 80 years to build up the loss of capital suffered during the last 30 years
Thirdly, the present staff strength and pattern is obsolete. The staffing has got to be strengthened both in quantity and quality Young professional graduates and sub professional supervisors and technicians should be inducted in this forest after intensive training at home and abroad Their living and working conditions have to be fundamentally im-
proved and their services should be accountable to the nation through the superior administration of government of Bangladesh.
Fourthly, wildlife conservation. tourism and fishery has been given a lip service in the past. These respurces must be brought within the purview of conservation i.e.. balance in the use of resources. If properly organised Sundarbans can attract terminal tourist trade from all over the world like the national parks and game sanctuaries. A crocodile farm and a herpetarium can be the focus of attraction in the orient.
Lastly, the ageing fleet of launches and river craft need immediate amendment and Increase in number in order to cope with large volume of intensive work. Similarly a well-developed infrastructure for supply and maintenance of goods and services to the government personnel, contractors and their labour Is an essential pre-requisite for an ideal resource management system, which lie beyond the last outpost of human civilization.
At this concluding paragraph the writer is strongly of the opinion that management of the Sundarbans with only two graduate foresters is an understaffed organization. Such a large area with peculiarities and specialities of its own require large number of highly qualified personnel working as a team duly supported by a full-fledged Mangrove Research Institute. In the fitness of things it appears that administration, management, conservation and research should be brought under a Senior Officer not be-
low the rank of a full-time Conservator of Forests. The Conservator in turn should be assisted by a retinue of professional graduates specialized in management of renewable resources, conservation specialists (biometric assessors for annual felling and control of felling operations and prescriptions). research in major and minor crop in field and in the proposed research institution. and by other men specialized in marine/mechanlcal engineering, public relation and miscellaneous linkage effects. It would undoubtedly
cost money to introduce such reforms. But additional expenditure through a well-thought-out project will give positive results for economic indices e.g.. Benefit: Cost (B.C) ratio. Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR). This is well supported by Dr Nawajesh Ahamed who has proved that a single tree gives financial and economic benefit of Tk 30 lakh within its lifespan of 40 years (The Dally Star, August 10. 1991).
The author Is a Retired Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests.