Sundarbans Mangroves

Located on the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta along the Bay of Bengal, the Sundarbans covers a massive area. Estimates of its total size vary by source, with some citing approximately 10,000 square kilometers and others reporting 10,277 square kilometers. This expanse is divided between Bangladesh, which holds about 60 to 62 percent of the forest, and India, which holds the remaining 38 to 40 percent. The region is defined by its complex network of tidal streams, mudflats, and salt-tolerant mangrove trees, such as the dominant sundari and gewa species, which have evolved to thrive in this dynamic, brackish environment. The Sundarbans is considered the world's largest contiguous mangrove forest due to the sheer scale of its unbroken, interconnected deltaic landscape, which is shaped by the massive sediment deposits and freshwater flows from the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers. This unique geography creates a vast, continuous habitat that supports a high level of biodiversity, including the Bengal tiger, which is uniquely adapted to this mangrove environment, as well as numerous species of birds, fish, and reptiles. Climate change poses a profound threat to this ecosystem. Sea levels in the region are rising, with some reports indicating a rate of approximately 3 centimeters per year, which is more than double the global average. This encroachment of the sea is causing significant land loss, with one estimate noting that 210 square kilometers of land have been lost since 1964. As the sea advances, it pushes saltwater further inland, salinizing soils and aquifers, which degrades the health of the mangroves and threatens local agriculture and drinking water supplies. Cyclones are also a major and increasing concern. While the mangroves act as a natural shield that breaks the force of storm surges and winds, protecting inland communities, the forest itself is vulnerable to these extreme weather events. Research indicates that cyclones are a primary driver of mangrove disturbance and loss, causing forest fragmentation and reducing the ecosystem's overall resilience. Recent studies have found that between 10 and 15 percent of the Sundarbans has shown a reduced ability to recover from such climate-related stresses between 2000 and 2024.