TOO much tourist rush to Sundarbans in the dry winter season is poising big threat to the bio-diversity to the world’s biggest Mangrove forests. A study report by experts of the Khulna University raised the concern saying while existing tourist arrangement can hardly contain 4 to 7 thousand tourists, the peak winder season from November to March produce over 45 thousand tourists daily to several tourist destinations within the forest. The excessive number itself suggest the insurmountable pressure the ecosystem is facing at a time when very insufficient forest staff poorly trained and equipped to handle so many visitors have left the animal and other plant species totally exposed to harm and destruction.
What is noticeable is that unplanned tourism and so many tour operators bringing visitors in huge number are not supportive to the environment of Sundarbans. Visitors move without restriction and leave different wastes like food packets, polythene, water pots and other effluents on surface soil and water bodies of the forest which are relentlessly harming the animals and microorganism of the forest. The noisily sound originated from trawlers and ships spilling oil and the shipyards spreading dusts are polluting the air and generating harmful non-biodegradable waste.
The previously calm water bodies, rivers and channels are no more calm to give protected sanctuary to dolphin and such other fish species. Tigers and deers are living under constant threats. For sound pollution, some animal species may be leaving this forest area to cross to Indian part of Sundarbans, which is highly protected. The report said that the naval and military personnel and sometimes the foresters themselves hunt and trapped the animals in the forest. For this reason, Java rhinoceros, wild buffalo, swamp deer and such other rare species have already become extinct. But at our side the government is not only building huge coal-fired power plants that will seriously pollute air and water, it is also planning new industries that will destroy the environment.
In this context, there is no alternative to develop proper management of tourism in the forestry so that visitors can properly handled within sustainable number. Tourist cannot be restricted; but the number may be held back to reasonable level. This is mainly the task of the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Environment and forest. We must say that tourism to Sundarbans is manageable but there must be proper planning. We can’t let the forest be destroyed this way.
What is noticeable is that unplanned tourism and so many tour operators bringing visitors in huge number are not supportive to the environment of Sundarbans. Visitors move without restriction and leave different wastes like food packets, polythene, water pots and other effluents on surface soil and water bodies of the forest which are relentlessly harming the animals and microorganism of the forest. The noisily sound originated from trawlers and ships spilling oil and the shipyards spreading dusts are polluting the air and generating harmful non-biodegradable waste.
The previously calm water bodies, rivers and channels are no more calm to give protected sanctuary to dolphin and such other fish species. Tigers and deers are living under constant threats. For sound pollution, some animal species may be leaving this forest area to cross to Indian part of Sundarbans, which is highly protected. The report said that the naval and military personnel and sometimes the foresters themselves hunt and trapped the animals in the forest. For this reason, Java rhinoceros, wild buffalo, swamp deer and such other rare species have already become extinct. But at our side the government is not only building huge coal-fired power plants that will seriously pollute air and water, it is also planning new industries that will destroy the environment.
In this context, there is no alternative to develop proper management of tourism in the forestry so that visitors can properly handled within sustainable number. Tourist cannot be restricted; but the number may be held back to reasonable level. This is mainly the task of the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Environment and forest. We must say that tourism to Sundarbans is manageable but there must be proper planning. We can’t let the forest be destroyed this way.
