Geomorphic Classification and Assessment of Mangrove Degradation in the Henry’s and Patibania Island, South Western Sundarban

Debasmrity Mukherjee,Ashis Kumar Paul

doi:10.47607/ijresm.2020.300

Debasmrity Mukherjee, Ashis Kumar Paul

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.47607/ijresm.2020.300

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Abstract

The coast of Henry's island, extending from Saptamukhi River in the east to Bakkhali River in the West. In the hot and humid climate of the Sundarban, a negligible input of fresh water through tidal creeks, high evaporation rate at the surface area are the probable reasons behind the evolution of Hypersaline patches of Henry's and Patibunia Island. The dense salt patches develop in the abandoned portion of the surface then sinks and move out of the tidal estuaries as subterranean flow or a bottom current to make the environment more saline. Development of Saltpan is one of the major hindrances for the growth of mangroves and hampers the ecological balance of Sundarban. Present paper attempts to highlight- I) To study and identification of Geomorphological settings of both island. ii) Analysis of Physico-chemical properties of hyper saline soil. iii) Identification of hyper-saline patches and their impact on mangrove degradation. Application of remote sensing technique and GIS analysis help to find out the relationship between mangrove degradation and salinity within the islands area in the last few decades. Development of hyper saline patches and changing environmental parameters are how much responsible for the mangrove degeneration process are major issues of this paper. The Forest Department has attempted to restore the growth of mangrove and improve fragile ecosystem but without understanding the geomorphology and environmental condition, it is not possible to implement proper managemental strategies for wetland restoration process.

Highlights

The Sundarban has always been considered to be a dynamic region
The Indian Sundarbans, at the apex of Bay of Bengal is located on the southern triangle of West Bengal, on the North - East Coast of India. It covers an area of 9630sq.km which is bounded in the North by an imaginary line called Dampier – Hodges lines, the South by Bay of Bengal, the east by Icchamati – Kalindi – Raimangal rivers and in the west by Hoogly. It falls within two districts of 24 Parganas (North and South), in the state of West Bengal and consist of an expanse of low flat islands and mud bank separated by a network of anastomosing tidal channels and rivers
The seaward face of any island is mainly affected by the growth of saline blanks but the level is lower in the landward side due to river floods and storm effects

Summary

Introduction

The Sundarban has always been considered to be a dynamic region The changes in this region have mainly been caused by the fluvial activities. The monsoonal dynamics causing rains and flood have been playing major changes in the landscape development in the delta. The Indian Sundarbans, at the apex of Bay of Bengal (between 21°31’N and 22°40’N latitude and 88°03’E and 89°07’E longitude) is located on the southern triangle of West Bengal, on the North - East Coast of India It covers an area of 9630sq.km which is bounded in the North by an imaginary line called Dampier – Hodges lines, the South by Bay of Bengal, the east by Icchamati – Kalindi – Raimangal rivers and in the west by Hoogly. The rivers in the western parts (Hoogly and Muriganga) are connected to the Himalayan glaciers through Ganges originating at the Gangotri glaciers; whereas the five eastern sector’s rivers like Saptamukhi, Thakuran, Matla, Gosaba, and Harinbhanga are all tidally fed

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