A simple piece of evident of the mangrove desertification process.

No big trees (matured plant) were found within a couple of miles in Eastern Sundarbans located in Bagerhat district of Bangladesh except some saplings and scattered bushes. Human greediness has assimilated significant portion of that mangrove forest in only two decades. Local forward-looking fifty years old Mr. Mokshed, inhabit just on the bank of Vola river which is bordering the elusive forest with the neighborhood, allude that we had such a green and bloodcurdling forest during our childhood. Our local companion named 'Nasir' piteously gave his view that 'Sir, you can fit in a couple of your Dhaka City here where there are no trees at all (completely open land)". Mr. Nasir, who is part of the nasty exercise involved in forest cutting regretted about his work, added that the woods would not exist for long unless concerned people take immediate action to protect it. Nasir continued showing animosity; local influential will grab even this woodland in a while.

A sign a misfortune

We seven peoples were on a half day long short trip to this said part of the Sundarban in last March 2013. It was distressing to observe such a silence mass, which took only couple of decades. Personally I have seen significant parts of this majestic mangrove forest, but never been this much displeased before. The rate of deforestation is far-reaching and might not be possible to recover ever by not only our generation but also next as well. 

Cattle rearing is commonly practiced in the buffer zone

 Of course, there are some amendments in mind-set of local inhabitants taking place. Recent stroked cyclone and regular small scale surges have impacted a lot to alter their attitude. Also, small scale awareness campaigns being organized to improve people knowledge but those are not merely adequate to project our heritage.

Freshly logged tree

Invasive plant embracing Sundarban rapidly.

Rapture on Flight in Sundarban

Birds from the Bank of Vola River

Improving the capacity of Forest Department and amending their outlook is inevitable to conserve out invaluable resource. As responsible party for forest protection, their efficiency needs to be enhanced.  

The question is – “when we will wake up? When this carelessness will be clogged?”