Sundarban National Park was declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

Aims of UNESCO:

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030.

Criteria:

There are several criteria to select a region as World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

• According to Criteria (ix) of UNESCO, Sundarban is an outstanding instance of significant ecological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, estuarine and marine ecosystem and the communities of flora and fauna.
• Besides this, Criteria (x) of UNESCO indicate that Sundarban is one of the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biodiversity, also containing globally threatened species from the point of view of science and conservation.

Uniqueness:

• It is the only mangrove posses Royal Bengal Tiger as its habitat.
• The land area of Sundarban is very dynamic, moulded and shaped by the action of tides with erosion process more prominent along estuaries and deposition of alluvium etc materials along the banks of inner estuarine waterways influenced by the accelerated discharge of silt from sea water.

The role of the region as a wetland nursery for estuarine and marine organisms and a climatic buffer against natural cyclones created in the Bay of Bengal frequently.

Sundarban Tiger Reserve has got a global recognition in big cat conservation in 2021.

About CATS:

• CATS is a set of criteria which allows tiger sites to check their management, leads to successful tiger conservation.
• CATS was launched in 2013 as an accreditation tool by the global coalition of Tiger Range Countries (TRC).
• It has been put into action across 125 sites in 7 Tiger range countries. India accounts for the highest number of 94 sites, of which assessment for 20 Tiger reserves was concluded in 2021.
• 14 Tiger reserves in India have received accreditation of the global Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CATS).

Significance of Conservation of Tigers:

• Tiger conservation leads to the conservation of forests. Protecting and preserving the Tiger directly helps in protecting the entire ecosystem, including species, flora, and fauna.
• Development and conservation of Tiger reserves and Tiger corridors are very significant as the environment experts have noted that the condition of several Tiger reserves has deteriorated because of the diversion of land for infrastructure projects.
• Fragmentation of Tiger reserves and Tiger corridors leads them to move beyond the forested areas for prey. This movement increases the human-Tiger conflict.

Indian Sundarban is designated as a Ramsar Site in 2019.

Sundarban- as Ramsar Site:

• Sundarban met 4 of the 9 criteria required for the status of ‘Wetland of International Importance’.
• Presence of rare species and threatened ecological communities, biodiversity, significant and representative fish and fish spawning ground along with migration pathway.
• It is the 27th Ramsar Site in India with an area coverage of almost 4,23,000 ha.
• It is also the largest protected wetland of international importance in our country.

Facts about Ramsar Convention:

• In 1971, the first convention was held at Ramsar city in Iran.
• The convention on wetlands is an inter-governmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international co-operation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

Prospects:

The Ramsar designation furthers possibilities of international cooperation of the unique wetland ecosystem which amongst other values are critical for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Sundarban Biosphere Reserve was constituted by Government of India in 1989 and it received the recognition of UNESCO under its Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme in November, 2001.

About MAB:

Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) is an inter-governmental scientific programme, launched in 1971 by UNESCO,

Aims of MAB:

• To establish a scientific plan of action for the improvement of relationships between people and their environments.
• To promote research activities, environmental education, training and monitoring in the context of local, national and international conservation and sustainable development.

Basic Features of Biosphere Reserve:

• A biosphere reserve must contain three basic structures, viz. core area, buffer and transition zone between them.
• Core area must be a bio-geographical unit and should be large enough to sustain viable populations representing all trophic levels.
• It combines the natural and social sciences with a view to improving local livelihoods and safeguarding natural and managed ecosystems.
• Promoting innovative approaches to economic development that are socially and culturally appropriate and environmentally sustainable.

Conservational View:

• The conservational perspective of Biosphere reserves depends on managing genetic resources, endemic species, ecosystems, and landscapes.
• It may prevent man-animal conflict along with the wildlife, culture and customs of local inhabitants.

Note: Currently there are 18 Biosphere Reserves in India.

Sundarban is the largest mangrove in our country with almost 4000 sq Km area coverage.

Mangrove Ecotone:

• In the saline environment, low oxygen concentration in soil and daily tidal influx promotes mangrove formation in the coastal ecosystem.
• Being an ecotone, Sundarban posses a great biodiversity with amazing natural beauty, constitutes over 60% of the country’s total mangrove forest area.

Mangrove- Other than Sundarban:

In India, there are several mangrove forests found in different states, like

i. Bhitarkanika in Odissa;
ii. Krishna- Godavari delta in Andhra Pradesh;
iii. Pichavaram in Tamilnadu,
iv. Some costal parts of Maharashtra;
v. Goa;
vi. Karnataka;
vii. Gujarat

Transport:

The whole area is connected by the waterways only.

Ecological outlook:

This is the land of majestic and endangered Royal Bengal Tigers, fishing cats, estuarine crocodiles, river terrapins, rotifers, planktons, various invertebrates along with several important mangrove plants and serves as the primary defense against ocean- based natural calamities to the entire lower Gangetic plain.

Ecology is all about the interaction between communities. Both biotic and abiotic components are important to sustain an ecosystem. Sundarban is considered as estuarine mangrove in the Gangetic delta. Sundarbans features two ecoregions -'Sundarbans freshwater swamp forests' and 'Sundarbans mangroves'. The seasonally flooded Sundarbans freshwater swamp forests lie inland from the mangrove forests on the coastal fringe. The forest covers approximately 10,000 km2 of which about 6,000 km2 are in Bangladesh. The Indian part of Sundarbans is estimated to be about 4,110 km2, of which about 1,700 km2 is occupied by water bodies in the forms of rivers and creeks of width varying from a few metres to several kilometres. The Sundarban along the Bay of Bengal has evolved over the millennia through natural deposition of upstream sediments accompanied by intertidal segregation. The physiography is dominated by deltaic formations that include numerous drainage lines associated with surface and subaqueous levees, splays and tidal flats.

Major abiotic components:

Soil

The Sundarban deltaic alluvium is formed out of the silt brought from the Himalayas. The soil is mainly of fine silty clay in northernmost part. Peaty deposits are found in the middle and the swamp area. Sandy clay with sand dunes are seen towards the sea face. The upper layer of the soil is grey to greyish black in colour. The soil of the mangrove delta is less in oxygen content. Humus content is generally high in the mangroves.

Climate

Despite its close proximity to the Tropic of Cancer, the extreme climate does not prevail here because of its location nearer to the sea as well as due to tidal flushing of rivers and creeks inside. The mean maximum temperature is 30 degree Celsius (June- July) and mean minimum temperature is 20 degree Celsius ( December- January) which are soothing to people. The average rainfall of the area is about 180 cm. Humidity ranges normally 70-80% in the region.

Hydrology

Due to heavy rain and variable tidal influx, the estuaries of the region have become dynamic. A rhythmic cyclical pattern is noticed in the hydrology of the rivers. Temperature, salinity, pH and turbidity vary according to the horizontal zonation of a river from the sea and freshwater flow due to rain.

Major biotic components:

Flora

The Sundarbans Mangroves ecoregion on the coast forms the seaward fringe of the delta and is the world's largest mangrove ecosystem. The dominant mangrove species Heritiera fomes is locally known as Sundari. Mangrove forests are not home to a great variety of plants. They have a thick canopy, and the undergrowth is mostly seedlings of the mangrove trees. Besides the sundari, other tree species in the forest include, keora, hetal, golpata, baine etc.

Fauna

Not only the flora but also the fauna is very important in Sundarbans. The majestic Royal Bengal Tiger, fishing cat, civet cat, jungle cat, rhesus macaques, otters, palm squirrel, various kinds of birds, saltwater crocodiles along with several species of reptiles, fish, amphibian and entomofauna are bountiful in the mangrove ecoregion. The interaction between the communities of biotic and abiotic factors is very important and very strong in mangrove ecotone. The diversity of both fauna and flora is due to the ‘edge effect’ according to the ecology.

Besides these, a native pioneer species called Dhani Ghas (Porteresia coarctata) grows in saline estuarine ecosystem. Important to note that, the salinity gradient makes the stratification of trees in the ecotone environment.

The huge damage of the mangroves was caused by the cyclone Amphan last year. The state govt has decided to rebuild the damaged forests by planting mangrove, thereby to protect the ecozone from natural calamities. The Forest Dept has started planting 5 crore mangrove saplings in the Sundarbans. There are 4 main objectives of the work plan, they are -

1. Plantation of mangrove and associated species,
2. Restoration of mangrove ecosystem; the aim is to support livelihood without destroying the mangrove forests,
3. Conservation of existing mangrove forests; this provides breeding grounds for fisheries and preserving biodiversity,
4. To act as a carbon sink; as mangrove ecosystem absorb more carbon compounds than the other land-based forests.

Target area

Total target area of mangrove plantation was 2500 ha. The work was continuing in collaboration with the district administration. 1725 ha non- forest land was vested revenue land in 10 Blocks. The work was taken up in Convergence mode with MGNREGA. Collection of seedlings and preparation of land was carried out by the local inhabitants.

Species of plantation programme

The plantation is mainly lied on Baine tree, followed by Kankra, Garjan, Keora, Sundari and other mangrove- associated miscellaneous species.

Achievements

It was the achievement that the total number of planting sites were 129 and the total number of man-days generated was 4,01,021in the last annual year.

Honey is a mineral rich carbohydrate food source of high medicinal value produced by the bees. Honey harvesting is one of the major livelihoods of the people of Sundarban.

Collection of honey :

The people collected honey from the forests called 'Mouley' in colloquial language. A lot of people are involved which is in fact departmentally done. Honey and bee wax are the minor forest produce (MFP). The honey gathered from the Khalsi plant is one of the best qualities found in the state.

Season of collection :

They collect totally chemical free crude honey and bee wax every year during the dry seasons (in the months of April-May) from the dense mangrove forests. STR issues permit every year for honey collection.

Banphool Brand Honey :

'Bonphool'- pure Natural Mangrove Honey is collected from mangrove forests of Sundarban.

Association:

It is an initiative supported by Sundarban Biosphere Reserve (Directorate of Forest, Government of West Bengal), West Bengal Cooperative Bank Ltd., Department of Panchayat & Rural Development, Government of West Bengal and WWF-India.

• 100% Pure Natural Mangrove Honey collected by Maulis of Sundarban from Sundarban Mangrove Forest.
• It unique from other honey as it is less viscous with strong aroma and flavour of mangrove flower and rich taste.
• Natural, no added sugar, chemicals and preservatives.
• The honey is less viscous and looks watery. This is peculiar character of honey collected from mangrove forest. It mixes easily with water. The customer should not worry about its watery nature. It is unadulterated and can be consumed safely. One can cross check with people in Sundarban about its nature.

Storage and refinery :

The collected honey is deposited at different go-downs of the Tiger Reserve for storage and subsequent disposal by handling over the same to West Bengal Forest Development Corporation Ltd.
Average honey collected from Sundarban is near about 30,000 Kg. Sometimes the production exceeds the demands, and honey is wasted. In recent years, the department is majorly concerned with the marketing, packaging and endorse the refined honey in global market, thereby upliftment of the local people and sustainable development goal will be achieved.

The govt of West Bengal is set to launch unique fish tourism in Sundarbans to attract domestic as well as international tourists. More than 200 species of fish are present in the estuarine rivers and creeks. Some critically endangered and vulnerable species are also found in the creeks.The forest dept gives Boat licences (aka BLC) to the fishermen to venture into the creeks and earn their livelihood. Total active BLC in Sundarban is 693 in numbers, under different forest ranges of STR. Important fish like Bhola; Surungi Bhola; Nona Bele; Topse; Jat Amude; Chanda; Gurjali; Rule; Tapa; Kath Koi etc. are collected and served with great delicacy.