THE IMPACT OF RIVER BED SEDIMENTATION ON THE SUNDARBANS MANGROVE FOREST (BANGLADESH) WITH ITS EXCEPTIONAL ECOLOGICAL VALUE

Abstract

The present contribution focuses on challenges for conservation efforts of the Sundarbans mangrove forest in Bangladesh, which is a World Heritage Site. Current threats to its ecology may affect the forest's diminishing population of Royal Bengal Tigers. Moreover, the vegetation and wildlife are under threat because of significantly increasing concentrations of salt in the water. The effect of dredging in the Passur River is insignificant in terms of the so-called Outstanding Universal Value of the forest because the measured Environmental Risk Index is relatively low. The toxicity level is to be 29%. The salinity levels of the Sundarbans vary from 54,025 dS/m to 69,152 dS/m for south western rivers, which is some 50% higher than the typical salinity value of 43,320 dS/m. This has a strongly negative effect on the soil, agriculture, fisheries, flora, and wildlife; all this is detrimental for the Outstanding Universal Value of the Sundarbans. Examination of the current physical, chemical, and biological processes that pay a role in the Sundarbans natural setup and ecosystem indicates that it is under significant environmental stress.