'Cyclone Bulbul reminded us of Sundarbans’ importance'

Bangladesh was recently struck by Cyclone Bulbul, but the mangrove forest Sundarbans along the coast acted as a buffer, greatly reducing the potential damage and devastation. Chief Conservator of Forests Shafiul Alam Chowdhury spoke in a recent interview with Prothom Alo about the significance of the Sundarbans and its need for protection.

Prothom Alo: The cyclone Bulbul first struck the Sundarbans. What damage was done there?
Shafiul Alam Chowdhury: The Sundarbans has always been like a mother to Bangladesh, protecting it from the onslaught of cyclones and tidal surges. When Bulbul hit the forest, its wind velocity and the height of the tidal surge diminished. The cyclone once against reminded us of Sundarbans’ importance.
Such cyclones cause a lot of harm to the Sundarbans, though. Bulbul caused significant damage in Chandpai, Sharankhola and Satkhira forest areas. Many trees were damaged and destroyed. A detailed assessment is being made of the damage and we hope the final report will be ready in a week. Once the details of the damage are known, work will begin on overcoming the harm.

Prothom Alo: What decision has the government taken about tackling the damages caused by the cyclone in the Sundarbans?
Shafiul Alam Chowdhury: From the Aila and Sidr experience it is evident that the Sundarbans has the capacity within itself to overcome the damages caused by the cyclone. After Sidr, many had advised that we clear away the broken branches and twigs from the forest, but we did not do so. That would have caused long-term damage to the Sundarbans. We decided not to intervene and within a year the Sundarbans recovered on its own. This time too we are being advised to remove the broken branches and sell these, but we are not heeding such advice. We are letting things as they are. The branches will decompose and will also be fodder for the animals and the other plants there.

Prothom Alo: The Sundarbans faces the threat of cyclones, tidal surges and climate change. What is the present state of biodiversity there?
Shafiul Alam Chowdhury: Climate change has put the Sundarbans into further threat, but the government is much more active than before in protecting the forest. We have begun smart patrolling of the Sundarbans with the involvement of the local people, the forest department and the law enforcement and this has been effective. Tigers would go to the villages near the Sundarbans previously and the people would beat them to death. But this hasn’t happened over the past few years. Deer, which are the main food for tigers have increased to one million in number. And so the number of tigers has increased too over the past three years.
The density of the forest and biodiversity has increased too. Dolphins have increased in number. We declared Dangmari, Dudhmukhi and Chandpai to be dolphin sanctuaries and have proposed for further sanctuaries for special care to be taken of the dolphins. We even have annual dolphin fairs in Dhaka and the Sundarbans to raise awareness about the dolphin. This has resulted in their increase in number.

Prothom Alo: Despite all this success you are speaking of, we still hear about poison being used to kill and catch fish in the Sundarbans.
Shafiul Alam Chowdhury: Yes, we hear about this too, but the forest is so vast. Such crimes are taking place here and there. We are drawing up a list of such poachers. Recently we caught 16 persons in Mongla on suspicion of poisoning fish. There must be exemplary punishment to prevent such crime.

Prothom Alo: Industries are shooting up all over the place around the Sundarbans. How will the government protect the forest from the harmful impact of these industries?
Shafiul Alam Chowdhury: The government has declared 10 km area around the Sundarbans as an environmentally critical area or ECA and the department of environment is responsible for looking after this. They are taking action in accordance to the environment protection act. From the forest department we are responsible for protecting the boundaries of the Sundarbans.

Prothom Alo: For one year after the cyclone Sidr, no tourists or visitors were allowed to enter the Sundarbans. This time the prohibition is only for a few days.
Shafiul Alam Chowdhury: The speed velocity of Sidr was almost twice that of Bulbul and that was why we had to take such precautions. Bulbul didn’t harm our part of the Sundarbans that seriously. Even so, we have lessened the number of passes for tourists and fishermen. We are arranging controlled tourism.

Prothom Alo: Is there any estimate of how many tourists should visit the Sundarbans in a year? The tourists blast loudspeakers in the forest and litter the place with plastic bottles and polythene.
Shafiul Alam Chowdhury: We have taken up a Tk 300 million project for Sundarban tourism management. A Tk 4 billion project is also being taken up to provide the local people with alternative courses of income so that they can reduce their dependency on the forest. These are long-term plans to protect the Sundarbans.
The Sundarban forest is not just important for biodiversity. It saves us from cyclones and tidal surges. We get huge amounts of fish and fish fry from here. It provides the people with leaves and twigs for fuel and as material to build their homes. We are drawing up an overall economic assessment of the forest’s contribution to highlight its importance.

Prothom Alo: Thank you.
Shafiul Alam Chowdhury: Thank you.

*This piece appeared in the print edition of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten in English by Ayesha Kabir.