Biodiversity Loss by Riverbank Erosion: A Study on the two Char Unions in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study has explored the biodiversity loss of Lesraganj and Sutalari char unions through field survey, field observation technique and using BBS data. Bank erosion has destroyed the “habitat” of flora and fauna by disturbing the whole ecosystem chain of the study site. Many fruit varieties were available in mainland among which Jam, Amloki, Jalpai, Dalim, Chalta, Sharifa, and Latkan were not seen in the Charland. All types of homestead palm varieties have been lost while only banana is extensively practiced in the Charland. The mainland was rich in herbs and shrubs, but bank erosion has extinct them completely. The char dwellers are not capable to introduce any aesthetic varieties in the char homesteads and no aquatic vegetation could survive. The many mainland timbering yielding varieties are not found in the Charland except Eucalyptus and Babla while the mainland natural medicinal species cannot survive in the newly formed Charland. The mainland common mammalian fauna and birds are not found in the Charland due to the habitat damage. The mainland was rich in reptiles and amphibian species most of which have become very rare in the degraded char environment.