by Pankaj Yadav

NEW DELHI, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Extreme weather events are accelerating soil erosion and destroying mangroves, the ecological lifeline of the Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's largest mangrove forests.

Spanning more than 10,000 square kilometers across India and Bangladesh, the Sundarbans is home to nearly 350 Royal Bengal Tigers and about 220 saltwater crocodiles.

Conservative estimates indicate that between 1990 and 2020, deforestation on the Indian side alone destroyed roughly 138 square kilometers of forest. This degradation has led to severe soil erosion, widespread habitat loss and mounting threats to wildlife, including the Royal Bengal tiger.

In response, both government agencies and non-governmental organizations have intensified afforestation efforts to preserve mangroves as a natural shield for wildlife, biodiversity and the millions of people who depend on the fragile ecosystem.

According to the latest figures from the Indian government, mangrove cover in the eastern state of West Bengal, including the Sundarbans, expanded by approximately 22.16 square kilometers between 2013 and 2023.

Mangroves, highly specialized, salt-tolerant coastal plants, are critical to biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation. They protect coastlines from erosion and storms, absorb up to five times more carbon than terrestrial forests, help purify seawater, and serve as vital nurseries for marine life.

Environmentalists stress their indispensable role. Karunakar Reddy noted that mangroves absorb storm surges, stabilize coastlines, sustain biodiversity and protect local communities living in extremely vulnerable conditions.

Umashankar Mandal, widely known as the "Mangrove Man" for his decades-long dedication to planting mangrove saplings, told Xinhua that restoration efforts have delivered tangible economic benefits.

"Planting mangrove saplings has led to increased fishing and also greater honey-harvest, thus benefiting the locals living in the islands here," he said. "Over the years, higher yields have significantly improved their financial security."

Earlier this week, a large-scale mangrove plantation drive was launched in the Sundarbans under the Hara Hai To Bhara Hai (If It's Green, It's Full) #GreenIndiaChallenge initiative. Led by former federal lawmaker J. Santosh Kumar, the campaign saw nearly 10,000 mangrove saplings planted to promote long-term environmental sustainability.

Speaking to Xinhua, Kumar said the movement began nearly a decade ago in Telangana state and has since expanded nationwide. "We began our journey with the Sundarbans only last year. We resolve to plant mangroves in Sundarbans in the coming years and decades, thus doing our bit for nature and saving this area from deforestation." ■