By Md. Shamsuzzoha, Chairman, Department of Emergency Management, Faculty of Environmental Science and Disaster Management, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

The Sundarbans is the world’s largest mangrove forest and has been designated as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites that acknowledges its distinctive ecological characteristics and remarkable biodiversity within the active Bengal delta^1,2. The forest is renowned for being the habitat of the spotted deer and the Royal Bengal Tiger. The transboundary ecosystem of this tidal forest serves as a natural protector against climate change impacts, shoreline erosion, storm surges, and tropical cyclones^2,3. However, climate change-induced extreme heat events, the frequency of cyclones, and rising sea levels pose significant challenges to the tidal habitat⁴.

This forest is facing natural disasters, including extreme heat events. It also exerts direct influence on agriculture, human health, and the local economy. The challenges posed by extreme heat are frequently disregarded in conventional disaster management plans ⁵. Coastal disaster management plans must incorporate extreme heat as a critical element to safeguard the millions of individuals reliant on this vulnerable mangrove ecosystem. Extreme heat has been shown to generate heat waves in coastal regions, which have been associated with an escalation in various plant and animal diseases, tigers, crocodiles, and dolphins’ extinction, and a reduction in leaf-soil phenological conditions. Furthermore, the capacity of severe heat to diminish plant reproduction and compromise wildlife security has been demonstrated. Consequently, India and Bangladesh’s coastal disaster management strategies must comprehensively and combinedly consider severe heat and extreme climatic events, particularly in the Sundarbans. Therefore, it is essential to consider the effective integration of extreme heat into coastal disaster management plans:

Assess forest vulnerability: Finding out which plant and animal species, as well as which mangrove areas, are most vulnerable to excessive heat is crucial. This entails mapping the flood-prone Sundarbans delta areas and comprehending the environmental and meteorological elements that increase these forests’ susceptibility.

Early warning systems: Early warning systems for heat waves, tidal surges, coastal flooding, and tropical cyclones must be developed and put into place. These systems are meant to give coast guards, forest authorities, and coastal populations that depend on the Sundarbans timely information so they may take the necessary precautions.

Mangrove plantation and adaptation: Enhancing plantation efforts is essential to guaranteeing the resilience of mangrove plantations against extreme heat-induced events. This covers the planning of plantation sites, the choice of adaptable plant species that help create the best possible mangrove habitat, and the execution of strategies to improve tidal biodiversity.

Public awareness and education: Awareness raising and resilience building to mitigate the calamities caused by intense heat-induced climatic events are crucial to train affected people on how to save themselves through appropriate disaster risk reduction (DRR), emergency management, and resilience strategies.

Policy integration: The disaster management plans and policies relevant to the 4Rs (reduction/mitigation, readiness/preparedness, response, and recovery) of emergency management must be considered. Governmental, non-governmental organisations, and local communities must work in a participatory approach by organising community awareness, preparedness, and DRR campaigns.

References:

1. Shamsuzzoha, M., Abdul, A. & Biswas, A. Sustainable Biodiversity Management of The Sundarban: Disaster Management Perspective. Journal of Patuakhali Science and Technology University 2, 71–91 (2010). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313065408
2. Rogers, K. G. & Goodbred, S. L. The Sundarbans and Bengal Delta: The World’s Largest Tidal Mangrove and Delta System. In 181–187 (2014). doi:10.1007/978-94-017-8029-2_18.
3. Chakrabarty, S. Factors Affecting Governance Aspect of Disaster Management: Comparative Study of the Sundarbans in India and Bangladesh. in Ecological Footprints of Climate Change: Adaptive Approaches and Sustainability (eds. Chatterjee, U., Akanwa, A. O., Kumar, S., Singh, S. K. & Dutta Roy, A.) 219–245 (Springer International Publishing, Cham, 2022). doi:10.1007/978-3-031-15501-7_9.
4. Sarkar, S. K. Mangroves and Climate Change: A Global Issue. In Sundarban Mangrove Wetland (ed. Sarkar, S.K.) 403–474 (Elsevier, 2022). doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-817094-6.00007-9.
5. GoB. National Plan for Disaster Management (2021-2025): Action for Disaster Risk Management Towards Resilient Nation. https://modmr.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/modmr.portal.gov.bd/page/a7c2b9e1_6c9d_4ecf_bb53_ec74653e6d05/NPDM2021-25%20DraftVer5_23032020.pdf (2020).

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