Jan.
10, 2013 — Mangrove forests of the Sundarbans are disappearing, taking
endangered species like the Bengal tiger with them.
RAPID
deterioration in mangrove health is occurring in the Sundarbans, resulting in
as much as 200m of coast disappearing in a single year.
A
report published January 11 in Remote
Sensing by scientists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL)
states that as human development thrives, and global temperature continues to
rise, natural protection from tidal waves and cyclones is being degraded at
alarming rates. This will inevitably lead to species loss in this richly
biodiverse part of the world, if nothing is done to stop it.
ZSL's
Dr Nathalie Pettorelli, senior author of the paper says: "Our results
indicate a rapidly retreating coastline that cannot be accounted for by the
regular dynamics of the Sundarbans. Degradation is happening fast, weakening
this natural shield for India and Bangladesh."
The
name 'Sundarban' can be literally translated as 'beautiful forest' in the
Bengali language. The area is is the largest block of continuous mangrove
forest in the world, being home to almost 500 species of reptile, fish, bird
and mammals, including the endangered Bengal tiger.
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