357
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
C.W. Finkl, C. Makowski (eds.), Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation,
Coastal Research Library 21, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56179-0_11
Chapter 11
Mangrove Degradation in the Sundarbans
Ashis Kr. Paul, Ratnadip Ray, Amrit Kamila, and Subrata Jana
Abstract Mangroves are most opportunistic plant to find out the favorable environment for adjustment with changing natural conditions of the coastal processes over
time and space. The salt loving halophytic plants of intertidal environment are also
known as a perfect biological indicator of coastal environmental changes. They act
as natural buffer or bio-shield against the wind breaks, tidal waves and coastal erosion. Surface stability of younger deltaic sediments is achieved in the Sundarban
coast due to the location and luxuriant growth of mangroves. Presently, Sundarban
mangroves are affected by multiple ways of degradations that will produce the significant risks or vulnerabilities to the deltaic coasts occupied by land hungry people
of South-Asia.
The present study reveals with an attempt to prepare a checklist for the assessment of mangrove degradations with special reference to south west Sundarban
coast. The significance of mangrove conservation will be strongly supported by
such degradation check lists for the coastal managers. The present work is conducted by extensive field works over a prolonged period, use of professional experiences of the authors, and application of Geospatial Techniques for database
generation and management to achieve the purposes. However, factor analysis
(PCA) method is also utilized to justify the ideal sequential factors those are responsible for mangrove degradations for each study area of the islands as per their
regional location characters.
So far as, seven major factors and their total 56 sub-factors of mangrove degradations have been identified in southwestern parts of the Sundarban from the temporal
field observations, remote sensing studies and explored historical documents in the
study areas. From the present study it is revealed that hypersalinity, storm effects
and sediment deposition parameters are mainly responsible for mangrove degradations
in Patibania Island (Susnir Char); and for the Fredrick Island fishery development,
A.K. Paul (*) • R. Ray • S. Jana
Department of Geography and Environment Management, Vidyasagar University,
Midnapore, India
e-mail: akpaul_geo2007@yahoo.co.in
A. Kamila
Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Vidyasagar University,
Midnapore 721102, West Bengal, India
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
C.W. Finkl, C. Makowski (eds.), Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation,
Coastal Research Library 21, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56179-0_11
Chapter 11
Mangrove Degradation in the Sundarbans
Ashis Kr. Paul, Ratnadip Ray, Amrit Kamila, and Subrata Jana
Abstract Mangroves are most opportunistic plant to find out the favorable environment for adjustment with changing natural conditions of the coastal processes over
time and space. The salt loving halophytic plants of intertidal environment are also
known as a perfect biological indicator of coastal environmental changes. They act
as natural buffer or bio-shield against the wind breaks, tidal waves and coastal erosion. Surface stability of younger deltaic sediments is achieved in the Sundarban
coast due to the location and luxuriant growth of mangroves. Presently, Sundarban
mangroves are affected by multiple ways of degradations that will produce the significant risks or vulnerabilities to the deltaic coasts occupied by land hungry people
of South-Asia.
The present study reveals with an attempt to prepare a checklist for the assessment of mangrove degradations with special reference to south west Sundarban
coast. The significance of mangrove conservation will be strongly supported by
such degradation check lists for the coastal managers. The present work is conducted by extensive field works over a prolonged period, use of professional experiences of the authors, and application of Geospatial Techniques for database
generation and management to achieve the purposes. However, factor analysis
(PCA) method is also utilized to justify the ideal sequential factors those are responsible for mangrove degradations for each study area of the islands as per their
regional location characters.
So far as, seven major factors and their total 56 sub-factors of mangrove degradations have been identified in southwestern parts of the Sundarban from the temporal
field observations, remote sensing studies and explored historical documents in the
study areas. From the present study it is revealed that hypersalinity, storm effects
and sediment deposition parameters are mainly responsible for mangrove degradations
in Patibania Island (Susnir Char); and for the Fredrick Island fishery development,
A.K. Paul (*) • R. Ray • S. Jana
Department of Geography and Environment Management, Vidyasagar University,
Midnapore, India
e-mail: akpaul_geo2007@yahoo.co.in
A. Kamila
Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Vidyasagar University,
Midnapore 721102, West Bengal, India