Analysis of Direct Human Influences and Its Adverse Impacts on the Ecosystems of World Heritage Site (Sundarbans)

Abstract

The Sundarbans is the largest single tract of mangrove forest in the world, occupying about 6,029 km2 in Bangladesh and the rest in India. At the advent of British rule in 1765, the Sundarbans forests were double their present size. Although, Sundarbans importantly supports local societies and economics, it is suffering a serious killer disease (top dying) which is affecting millions of the trees. The loss of H. fomes will have a major impact on the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem and economic losses as well.The forest is seriously threatened by human destruction and by ecological pollution. The cause of this dieback is still unknown. The present work investigates one of the possible factors that might be causing this top-dying namely the concentrations of various chemical elements present in the soil or sediments, particularly, exchangeable Kand heavy metals concentrations, though other chemical parameters such as the pH, moisture content of the soil or sediment and nutrient status were also assessed. A questionnaire survey was conducted among different groups of people inside and outside of Sundarbans to explore local perceptions as to the possible causes of top dying This confirmed the increase in top-dying prevalence due to human destructions and environmental pollutions.