After the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared the Sundarbans to be classified as ‘World Heritage in danger’, a new tension and anxiety developed among the minds of the citizens. But, recently the Prime Minister’s energy advisor’s belief that no harm will come to the mangrove forest from the establishment of the Rampal Power Plant is encouraging.
The Sundarbans is without a doubt a national heritage sight for Bangladesh. It is the witness to so many changes over the centuries. The natural ecosystem in the area is also to quite some extent being balanced by the mangroves, being home to the Bengal tiger.
It might give hope to the
citizens that the government
has proposed initiatives
which will save the mangroves
It is a matter of joy to know that the country will be able to achieve both the power plant in question and the safety of the Sundarbans. Recent reports in this daily show that a 21 member committee of the UNESCO has declared the Sundarbans to be out of the list of ‘World Heritage in Danger’. Even if such a decision by the World Heritage Committee (WHC) cannot be described to the clearest of levels, it might give hope to the citizens that the government has proposed initiatives which will save the mangroves. The proposals have also been approved by thirteen member countries and observer country India of the 21 member WHC.
The most notable of the proposed actions were the Tiger recovery actions. These will surely safeguard our Bengal tigers from becoming extinct due to the drastic change in environment.
On another note, the area of the Sundarbans has increased since 1996. This is definitely a positive factor for the national percentage of greenery.
