VEGETATION in many parts of Sundarbans is in conundrum due to uneven practice of Golpata collection. Golpata is a trunkless palm tree, in which leaves grow straight up from the ground. Though used in roof thatching and fences, nowadays its demand falls sharply that restrains locals to collect the leaves and clean the trees for growth and productivity. Some experts said cutting the roots and tubes of trees help out to high growth and productivity, while some others opined letting nature to cure itself to follow the natural rules is the best way for the mangrove forest. We think the government and the forest department must take the research-led policy to protect the protector, the Sundarbans.
The number of Sundari, the plant that defines the character of the Sundarbans, is also decreasing remarkably, creating a certain vacuum inside the once-dense mangrove forest. A Chattogram University study reveals that the areas that have turned into vacant places in the Sundarbans in the past 25 years, would be 54,000 hectares. It has pointed out that the vacuum created in the forest would otherwise, mean that the vacant areas could easily accommodate three cities equivalent to the size of the Port city of Chattogram with an area of 15,500 hectares.
Many Sundari plants were destroyed during the cyclone Sidr and Aila. The Forest Department has banned collecting timber and shrimp fry for the past 20 years to protect the forest. However, timber theft is a key reason for the decline. The deep forest of the Sundarbans is thus turning into thin forest. If such activities continue, the main features of the Sundarbans and its biodiversity will be changed. The forest department should take immediate action in this regard.
The forest department, researchers and local people must be involved to protect the largest mangrove forest in the world. Sundarbans is the natural shield of cyclones, storms, tsunami and many natural disasters, but we are reluctant to our protector, and even our wrong development steps set to backfire the development in the area.
