Sundarbans mangrove loss: West Bengal minister vows restoration of encroached areas
West Bengal Environment and Forest Minister Manoj Kumar Oraon has pledged to restore mangrove forests in the Sundarbans that have been lost to encroachments, including the construction of shallow fish ponds. The minister made the announcement after visiting Kripakhali, an island where over 100 hectares of mangroves have been cleared.
“In one of the islands with green mangrove cover till a few years ago, I saw that the entire island has been turned into fisheries. There are hundreds of such examples,” Mr. Oraon said, highlighting the scale of encroachment.
The minister was speaking at a workshop titled ‘Strengthening Mangrove Governance in the Indian Sundarbans through Technology Driven Innovation, Knowledge Partnership and Co-management’, organised by the Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS) in collaboration with the State Forest Department.
A report by NEWS revealed that over 600 hectares of mangrove forest have been encroached upon for bheries (shallow fish ponds) at 10 locations. Representatives noted that the actual encroached area may be higher as the survey covered only 10 sites.
Pradeep Vyas, president of NEWS and a former forest official, called for the establishment of a dedicated mangrove management and conservation authority in the state. He also suggested promoting saltwater crocodiles in the region, citing their tourism potential.
West Bengal, particularly the Sundarbans, holds the largest share of India’s mangrove cover—42.45% of the national total, approximately 2,119.16 sq. km. The Sundarbans is also the only mangrove forest in the world that hosts tigers, with an estimated population of about 100.
Rajendra Jakher, Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director of the Sundarban Tiger Reserve, noted that the saltwater crocodile population in the area ranges between 234 and 264. He emphasised the fragility of the Sundarbans ecosystem, stating that while some factors are beyond local control, the Forest Department is managing those within its purview effectively.
Ajanta Dey, joint secretary and programme director of NEWS, stressed that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for restoration and conservation in the Sundarbans. She advocated for an incremental learning approach and pointed out the lack of sufficient tidal gauges, which are crucial for scientific data collection to manage the ecosystem.
One notable success is a mangrove-linked aquaculture project by NEWS, which received Global Technical Recognition from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in October 2025. This model is seen as a sustainable livelihood option.
The Sundarbans, home to millions of people, is a fragile ecosystem facing complex hydro-geomorphological processes and extreme climatic events, including cyclones Phailin, Bulbul, Amphan, and Yash. Restoration efforts are critical to preserving this unique environment.
