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Large Scale Mangrove Plantation Undertaken to Protect Sundarbans

Source:thestatesman ↗

Why It Matters

Extremely relevant for WBCS aspirants focusing on West Bengal geography, ecological conservation, and disaster management in the Sundarbans.

Summary

Large-scale mangrove planting drives are being implemented in the Sundarbans of West Bengal to safeguard the vulnerable deltaic region from climate change impacts, cyclonic storms, and coastal erosion.

Key Points

  • Extensive mangrove plantation initiatives are underway in the Sundarbans to protect the fragile coastal ecosystem from severe cyclonic storms and rising sea levels.
  • Mangroves act as a natural biological shield against coastal erosion, protecting local habitations and biodiversity in West Bengal.
  • The Sundarbans region represents the largest contiguous mangrove forest in the world and is a critical carbon sink.

Static Concepts Connected

Geography of West Bengal & Environment

What are the key ecological and geographical features of the Sundarbans in West Bengal?

  • Geographic Extent: Largest continuous mangrove forest globally, distributed across North and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal.
  • Global Status: Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and designated as a Biosphere Reserve in 2001.
  • Flora and Fauna: Dominated by salt-tolerant halophytic species, notably the 'Sundari' tree (Heritieria fomes), and home to the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Cross-Topic Patterns

  • Mangroves + Disaster Management in Coastal WB

    Cyclone protection via mangroves intersects with disaster management protocols and district administration disaster relief funds in South and North 24 Parganas.

Sundarbans UNESCO status, blue carbon, and local flora like Heritieria fomes are high-yield static-current overlap areas for WBCS.

Linked PYQs · 3

Linked PYQs · 3

  • 2019WBCS_PRELIMSGS1

    Sundarban is declared as 'World Heritage Site' for

  • 2003WBCS_PRELIMSGS1

    The place in West Bengal declared by the UN in 1989 as the World Heritage site is

  • 2024WBCS_PRELIMSGS1

    On a per hectare basis which of the following forests will hold maximum amount of carbon?