The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sunderban is declared as the world heritage site for its natural value and reservoir of biodiversity. The world heritage committee of UNESCO inscribed the Sunderban of Bangladesh in the world heritage list by their 21st session in 1997 and accordingly the government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh declared the Sunderban as heritage site in 1999.

Sunderban, the world heritage site is composed of three wildlife sanctuaries such as Sunderban East wildlife sanctuary, Sunderban South wildlife sanctuary and Sunderban West wildlife sanctuary. The total area of heritage site is about 1400 sq.km out of which 910 km is land and 490 km is water area. The three sanctuaries are intersected by a complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt tolerant mangrove forest.

This mangrove supports a unique assemblage of flora and fauna, including Bengal tiger, Estuarine crocodile and the Ganges river dolphin. The sundry tree, for which the Sunderban is named, is a endemic species of this forest.

Sunderban mangrove forest particularly three wildlife sanctuaries acts as good nurseries and potential breeding ground for shrimps, prawns and many edible fishes. Sunderban, the world heritage site is the resource of our country.

So, we should conserve our Sunderban- the world heritage site by proper management of forest and wildlife. The unique mangrove eco-system and the heritage site of the Sundrebans must be saved from any further degradation.

Thus we can ensure a safe and better environment for the wildlife and other living organisms near the Sunderabn region as well as for the other part of the country.

Farzana Zahan

Tangail.