Sundarban

The Sundarbans (Bengali: সুন্দরবন,)is a mangrove area in the delta formed by the confluence of Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers in the Bay of Bengal. It spans from the Hooghly River in India's state of West Bengal to the Baleswar River in Bangladesh. It comprises closed and open mangrove forests, agriculturally used land, mudflats and barren land, and is intersected by multiple tidal streams and channels. Four protected areas in the Sundarbans are enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, viz Sundarbans National Park, Sundarbans West, Sundarbans South and Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuaries.

Source:Wikipedia

Location in Bangladesh
Location:Khulna Division, Bangladesh
Nearest city
Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat
Coordinates:21°57′N 89°11′E
Governing body:Government of Bangladesh

 UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name: The Sundarbans
Location: Khulna Division, Bangladesh
Includes: Sundarbans West Wildlife Sanctuary Sundarbans South Sanctuary Sundarbans East Sanctuary

Criteria: Natural: (ix)(x)
Reference:798
Inscription: 1997 (21st Session)
Area:139,500 ha (539 sq mi)
Coordinates:21°57′N 89°11′E
Ramsar Wetland
Official name
Sundarbans Reserved Forest
Designated
21 May 1992
Reference no.:560

  Ramsar Wetland

Official name:Sundarban Wetland
Designated: 30 January 2019
Reference no.:2370

The Sundarbans mangrove forest covers an area of about 10,000 km2 (3,900 sq mi). Of which, forests in Bangladesh's Khulna Division extend over 6,017 km2 (2,323 sq mi) and in West Bengal, they extend over 4,260 km2 (1,640 sq mi) across the South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas districts.[6] The most abundant tree species are Sundri (Heritiera fomes) and Gewa (Excoecaria agallocha). The forests provide habitat to 453 faunal wildlife, including 290 bird, 120 fish, 42 mammal, 35 reptile and eight amphibian species

Despite a total ban on all killing or capture of wildlife other than fish and some invertebrates, it appears that there is a consistent pattern of depleted biodiversity or loss of species in the 20th century, and that the ecological quality of the forest is declining.[8][9] The Directorate of Forest is responsible for the administration and management of Sundarban National Park in West Bengal. In Bangladesh, a new Forest Circle was created in 1993 to preserve the forest, and Chief Conservators of Forests have been posted since. Despite preservation commitments from both Governments, the Sunderbans are under threat from both natural and human-made causes. In 2007, the landfall of Cyclone Sidr damaged around 40% of the Sundarbans. The forest is also suffering from increased salinity due to rising sea levels and reduced freshwater supply. Again in May 2009 Cyclone Aila devastated Sundarban with massive casualties. According to news paper source at least 1 lakh people were affected by this cyclone.[10][11] The proposed coal-fired Rampal power station situated 14 km (8.7 mi) north of the Sundarbans at Rampal Upazila of Bagerhat District in Khulna, Bangladesh, is anticipated to further damage this unique mangrove forest according to a 2016 report by UNESCO.