Sundarban National Park: A World Network of Biosphere Reserve
The natural biosphere reserve, the Sundarban Delta, has significance in various ways. Sundarban has an important environmental role to play, whether it is the World's Network of Biosphere Reserves, the home of the famous Royal Bengal Tiger, or the world's biggest mangrove forest.
The abode to a huge variety of saltwater plants and trees, the Sundarban vegetation is a sight to see. The wet and damp canal banks, the salty air, and the natural air conditioning system make it memorable in a different way. The morning starts with vibrant, colorful birds flying over and singing melodious songs. The boats sail through the middle of the canals while the Gangetic crocodiles sunbathe on the muddy banks. Or a hungry crocodile is sailing close to the boat, toward its prey on the side. Everything about Sundarban is so raw and pure that it became a tourist attraction from all over the world. But what is the origin story of Sundarban?
“Where is Sundarban National Park located?”
It is the most sought question, and the query is not restricted to India. People from all over the world look for this reserve forest. So, it has some value-added significance in the environment.
Sundarban National Park is located at the confluence of India and Bangladesh. The Gulf of Bengal borders the Sundarbans to the south. Sundarban has evolved throughout the years of natural deposition from the rivers. Coming from a higher altitude, the upstream sedimentation gets deposited in the plains. Those sedimentations are accompanied by intertidal segregation, along with changes due to urban construction, etc. In short, the origin of Sundarban is due to the deposition of sediments carried by the rivers to the sea. At the meeting point, the coastal tides hit the river flow. As a result, the sediments lose their speed and cannot move anywhere.
Similar to the mechanism, there are various rivers all over the world that meet the sea. But no island has significance like the Sundarban. And the reasons are justified.
Importance of Sundarban National Park
The Ganges Delta and Sundarban have complex ecosystems that no forest has. This one has three tracts of mangrove forest with a huge collection of flora and fauna. Some of the plants are rare and tagged as endangered as well. The entire forest belonged to India. But, with the split, Bangladesh received a large portion of it. According to the debate, the term "Sundarban" is derived from Sundari (Heritiera fomes), a mangrove tree species that grows across the area. Some people also say that the name came from Sundar Ban, which means Beautiful Forest.
Aside from Sundari, halophytic plants such as gewa, goran, and keora are common in the Sundarban. The mangrove forest is also the home of various animals, and some of them are endangered as well. Among those endangered animals is the Royal Bengal Tiger, which is rare but abundant in Sundarban. But, there are several animals such as spotted deer, wild boars, Gangetic dolphins, otters, wild cats, crocodiles, and monkeys that are also available here. However, some species, such as the guar, one-horned rhinoceros, water buffalo, and several birds, are not seen anymore. Forest officials consider them extinct now.
The data shows that nearly 250 bird species, including migratory birds, have been spotted in Sundarban. In Subndarban alone, five types of kingfishers can be seen. Apart from that, white ibises, raptors, waders, hornbills, and storks are abundant here. A huge number of amphibians and reptiles. The marine Olive Ridley turtles are well-known among them. During the breeding season, the beach becomes full of turtle eggs and new hatchlings.
The Sundarban, with its unique fauna and flora, is critical to maintaining ecological equilibrium. Also, the mangrove forest protects the land from natural calamities. So, it is necessary to maintain the mangrove forest. Based upon that, tourists from all over the globe come to Sundarban. Its entire economy of it is dependent upon tourism. Locals take the tourists on boats for the Sundarban safari. For the same reason, in 1875, a large portion of the forest was designated as a "reserved forest" under the Forest Act of 1865. The dense forest was classified as the main area of the Sundarban Tiger Reserve in 1973 and as a sanctuary in 1977. In 1984, it was described as a national park.
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