Motherly Sundarbans: The forest gives us life and protects us

Sundarban Mayer Moton — Tawfeeq hugs his mother in the Sundarbans. Photo- WildTeam

The Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, stands as a vital natural barrier along the coast, protecting millions of people from cyclones, storm surges, and rising sea levels.

Often likened to a nurturing mother, this unique ecosystem not only endures harsh environmental conditions but also shields vulnerable communities from the increasing threats of climate change.

Beyond its protective role, the Sundarbans supports rich biodiversity and sustains local livelihoods, making its preservation crucial for both people and nature.

Recently, I have been to the Sundarbans with my grandsons, Tanzif and Tawfeeq, and their parents, Shahrin and Asif, and came back on the 26th instant. It took me quite a while to convince my daughter that it’s much more rewarding to visit the Sundarbans than Cox’s Bazar! I was referring to her perceptions of people who have visited the Sundarbans.

I was wondering what the Sundarbans meant to our younger generations and discovered Samia Jahan Shefa (shefasamia8@gmail.com), a student of the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, between her lines. Samia, on June 3, 2024, wrote to the editor of the Financial Express:

“The Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world, is like our mother who endures adversity but protects us. It safeguards the coastal areas, offering protection from Nature's fury. In recent memory, two of the deadliest super cyclones—Sidr in 2007 and Aila in 2009—hit the coastal areas of Bangladesh. After these devastating cyclones, other severe storms made landfall, including Fani and Bulbul in 2019, Amphan in 2020, and Yaas in 2021. Each time, the protective Sundarbans played the role of a saviour against Nature's ferocity. It was no different at the time of Remal. The Sundarbans, our first line of defence against natural disasters, once again safeguarded the nation from Cyclone Remal. It saves us but pays a heavy price in terms of the forest's ecosystem, wildlife, and biodiversity. The flora and fauna of the forest sacrifice their lives to save us. ……………….. If the Sundarbans survive, Bangladesh will survive, as it takes care of us. But who will take care of it? Bangladesh aims to be a developed country by 2041. What will be the condition of the Sundarbans then? Will it become a scapegoat for ‘development’? We don't want a developed Bangladesh at the cost of destroying our ‘saviour mother,’ the Sundarbans.”

On 17 February 2012, WildTeam (formerly Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh), with support from the Bangladesh Forest Department, launched a local campaign, naming it “Sundarban Mayer Moton” (Mother-like Sundarbans/Motherly Sundarbans). The event had a rally, an art competition, and a concert. Vice Chancellors of Dhaka and Khulna University, the Chief Conservator of Forests, and the Conservator of Forests of the Khulna Circle were present to raise awareness among the public about tiger conservation and the values of the Sundarbans. Musicians and celebrities from Dhaka and Khulna performed at the event.

The Sundarbans is one of the most important natural assets of Bangladesh. A World Heritage Site, home to spectacular wildlife, including the Bengal tiger, it feeds and shelters millions of people. WildTeam’s vision is to help protect the Sundarbans habitat and its wildlife. To achieve this, we work to connect local communities with the benefits of the forest through the Motherly Sundarbans, or Sundarban Mayer Moton, campaign. Through this campaign, WildTeam has strengthened the connection between village communities and the Sundarbans. The campaign has catalysed behavioural change in local communities, helping to reduce key threats to the forest and its wildlife. Until now, there has been no central hub for the Motherly Sundarbans work to celebrate and foster pride in the beautiful forest.

WildTeam’s EK Sundarbans Museum and Interpretation Centre (EKSMIC), supported by the Bangladesh Forest Department, German Cooperation through IUCN’s Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme, and EchoTex, Echonits, and Cosmos Group, is the home for the story of the Sundarbans and gives a voice to its biodiversity and people. It is capitalised on the trust that WildTeam has built within local communities and ensures the messages of our Motherly Sundarbans are passed on to successive generations.

EKSMIC is located at one of the gateways to the Sundarbans, the WildTeam Conservation Biology Centre (WCBC), in Joymoni village in the Chandpai Range of the Eastern Sundarbans, near Mongla. The Centre has accommodation for visitors and a conference room, which accommodates about 120 participants. EKSMIC will contribute to WildTeam’s behaviour change approach to conservation, helping to change people’s knowledge of, and attitudes towards, the forest. - UNB

By Dr. Md. Anwarul Islam, CEO of WildTeam and Former Professor of Zoology, University of Dhaka