The Endangered Sundari Tree is Disappearing

The dominant tree of the mangrove forest (Heritiera fomes) from which the name "Sundarban" was derived consists of 70% of the total trees. This tree is now endangered in the list of UNESCO because of mainly 'top dying disease' and salinity. Human activities or anthropogenic processes caused this. By mitigating our harmful activities along with sustainable development and taking proper measures, this problem can be solved. We should put our utmost concern into saving this tree from being extinct as it is one of the natural resources of flora and fauna of 'Sunadarban'.In this article, you will be acknowledged about the reasons for whose it is endangered. Let's get started.

Description:

The mangrove zone of Bangladesh is about 710 km long along with several tiny islands (Rahman et al, 2003). Heritiera fomes constituted 63.8% of the total tree vegetation (Chaffey et al, 1985).

Major Reasons for Being Endangered:

1. Top Dying Disease

The 'top dying disease' has caused death to 15% of trees since the 80s. The top dying disease affected 1.44 million cubic meters of Sundari trees in the last 30 years which worth 2,000 crores tk of economic loss. The concentrations of various chemicals (heavy metal) especially Sn, K, Ni, Pb, Zn, and soil pH contribute to the highly occurring top dying disease. As 5 cement factories named Meghna Cement Mills Ltd, Bashundhara Cement Mills Ltd, Mongla Cement Mills Ltd, Dubai-Bangla Cement Mills Ltd, and Holcim (Bangladesh) Ltd got green light within 10 km (critical area) away from Sundarban from the government, the Sundarban area is being polluted through the disposal of heavy metal. Moreover, Rampal coal-fired power plant also responsible for contaminating the Sundarban area. Therefore, the mean amount of heavy metals are increasing dramatically as Ni (76.08 ppb), Pb (19.30 ppb), Sn (0.61 ppb), Zn (73.60 ppb). The uppermost part of the tree gets affected first and then spreads towards the lower parts.

2. Salinity

Salinity is also responsible for the extinction of the Sundari tree. There has been found 30 ppm salinity in the water surrounding Sundarban which is fatal for it. Ainun Nishat, a water expert urged that owing to the adverse effect of Farakka and lack of sweet water, Sundari trees are endangered.

 Approximately,85.67 crore Sundari trees have been on extinction. Sedimentation, climate change (sea level rise) cause salinity to occur. The GBM system drags 2.4 billion sediments to the Bay of Bengal which causes sedimentation in tidal rivers. Through accumulating CO2 and greenhouse gases, the temperature rises which resulting in the melt of ice in polar regions and expand the ocean volume.

Sundari tree is at the threat of extinction because of top dying disease and salinity. If proper Structural Environment Assessment (SEA) cannot be attempted, in the recent future, the Sundarban will be relegated to the danger list.