An introduction to SUNDARBAN Region.

The sundarban region in West Bengal is located between 21’32 & 22’40’ North &Between 88’05 & 89’00 east. The region is bounded by the river Hooghly in the West & Icchamati- Raimangal river in the east borbering Bangladesh. The northern line conforms approximately to Dampier & Hodges Line demarcated by them as successive Surveyor Generals between 1830-33 According to Dr.Tarun Bikas Lahiri,founder Member Secretary, Sundarban Development Board total habitaa area in Sundarban ie excluding forest area, measures 4500 sq km. In an estimate prepared by the forest department of West Bengal it has been Shown that the total forest area under Sundarban is 4264 sq km The forest area in Bangladesh is about 4109 sq km Total number of islands in Sundarban is 54.*1

Personality of the region as reflected by Bio Diversity Mosaic Much of the region lies below 3 meter contour level . Sundarban is the product of tidal Estuary and the most explicit reflector is the soil system . The natural soil association Found in the sunderbon region had originated two parent materi > Ganga All > Salinized Ganga alluvium . The most distinctive soil property in relation to livelihood is the salinity and basically this property is Guided by two natural processes . > Tidal Action engulfed by sea water[Primary] > Rain water [Secondary] For more detail on formation process pl . see the final report . By tidal action following categories of soils are formed and are found in sunderbon >Saline soil >Saline Alkaline soil >Non Saline Alkaline soil >Degraded saline soil

.Sunderbon Tidal system can be spanned into three micro watershed – western : central and eastern . Sagar kaKdwip Namkhana and patherpratima blocks is situated within the Western Periphery consists of saptamukhi ;Thakuran Matla ; Gosaba and raimangal From fluvial Geomorphological perspective these rivers are functioning as stretched arms of sea rather than normal fluvial channels. Therefore salinity is intense and have pronounced impact on soil System as stated above determining the flora & Fauna pattern then followed by in blocks of Kakdwip,Namkhana & gradually to Pathar Pratima Island . The first comprehensive set of rules for the grant of landlease was issued in 1853. Out of178 grants, 30 capured by the Europeans, one to an American, 105 to Hindus 30 to Muslims & two to local Indian Christian . From records available from archive, it can be stated that since 1830 about 3737sq . Km of 7908sq . km region to the south of Dampier-Hodges Line had been cleared for settlement & arable land. Total length of earth embankments Encircling Sundarban habitat is 3500 km.

The first systematic attempt to record the flora of Sundarban was carried by sir (Dr.) William Carey from Srerampore & Dr. Buchanan Hamilton & handed over a collection of plants from this area to Roxyburgh , Superintendent of Indian Botanic Garden in 1796, who published an well known account in 1814 as HORYUS BENGALENSIS

The origin of flora species in Sundarban can be traced in three distinct evolution phases.

First Phase- in a newly formed island, Dhani & Baruna Grass are the most common. The grasses while growing fast, made more silt to adhere

. around. They make the way for other halophytes to germinate Second phase- Harocha, Keora & Khalshi paves the early second phase. & they Consolidates as the island gets almost permanently established. Third phase- with the island being reasonably raised, enter the species Of Gnewa, Garan, Kankura & he well known Sundari.These flora species in general coes under Mangrove community. Out of the fifty Mangrove species of the World as many as 35 species are available in Sundarban. Mangrove can be referred as community of trees & shrub which grow in estuarine Inter tidal ecosystem. They are botanical outcome of constant interaction of terrestrial & marine ecosystem & thrives in an active self sufficient ecosystem. They are adapted to the special kind of Ecological Niche. The spatial organization of mangrove can be divided into several Ecotonal Zone with dominant characteristics species suitable physiochemical Pocesses In Sundarban Estuary 250 fish species are available which a part of 2500 species is of Indian Ocean realm. Most of the fishes found in the estuaries, of couse,are found in transient period at some stages of their life cycle. The major fanual bulk of the area is the invertebrates spreading from tiny amoeba to the giant squilla. The drifting pelagic organisms known as plankton form the basic food component in water bodies consists of phytoplankton & zooplankton. Number of zooplanktons is related to salinity level & temperature & other allied factors.

Livelihood MosaicEstablishment of Settlement : Settlements of Sundarban are the imprints of indomitable Human Courage & endeavor to succeed in a hostile environment .Leaving aside for while the legends associated with pre historic settlement , it can be said that the first systematic initiative for human colonization in Sundarban started in the early years of 19th century. It started with the cultivation in Malta & Bidyadhari basin. With the ground level lying lower then High tide level, circuit embankment being started to be erected to prevent the ingress of saline water.

During 1831-33 after the survey conducted by Messre William Dampier & Lieutenant Alexander Hodges, systematic leases were given to settlers. With this begins the premature reclamation of young alluvial land in the northern fringe of Sagar island

Sundarban Struggles : an appraisa of Resource utilization

through an overview of Occupational System . Broad Land use categorization & it’s aerial extension

Area

Sl No Categories Ha.(‘000) Sq. km Percentage

1 Area of habitated 449.36 4493.6 46.6

Mouzas

2 Area under river 65.72 657.20 6.8

3 Area under forest 426.31 4263.1 49.3

4 Area under other 21.60 216.0 2.3

Miscellaneou

Utilization

5 Total for sundarban 962.99 9629.9 100

Agriculture: Agro Ecological Ambience

Total area of land under cultivation is 2,95, 000 hectares. Farming in

Sundarban is an extra ordinary example of growing crop in a field under protection

From high tides and nature hazards like tidal bore or cyclone driven splashes. Parallel

can only be drawn from Kuttinad area of Kerala.

Apart from these explicit challenges, the inherent constraint root to High Level

Of Soil Salinity. Averange Surface soil salinity in % ranges from 063 – 1.40. Surface

water is saline varying from 8 PPT ( moderate) in Post Monsoon Season [ August-

October] to >20 PPT (high) during Post Monsoon season [March – July] .

Groundwater of low salinity is found at depths ranging from 300-400 meter. Rainfall

is unimodal , 90% of total annual precipitation amoulting 1800mm happens during

monsoon season [ June – October].

Most of the rain fed crop is grown under poor drainage condition coupled with

high humidity and low average of sunshine availavility due to high cloud coverage.

Yield is inevitably sufferd.