Biodiversity Conservation Challenges in the Sundarbans Region: An Analytical Study of Habitat Loss, Species Decline, and Management Strategies

Abstract

The Indian Sundarbans is a globally important mangrove socio-ecological system characterised by 
seemingly constant regional forest totals with the erosion of adjacent reserve forests, deteriorating vegetation 
health indices, salinity-induced compositional alterations, and ongoing livelihood pressures. Approach: This 
research amalgamated evaluations from the Forest Survey of India, a remote-sensing dataset spanning 2000
2020, government reports on tigers and animals, documentation of protected areas, and contemporary peer
reviewed studies. Descriptive statistics, absolute and relative change, compound annual growth rate, coefficient 
of variation, and a clearly exploratory trend estimate were computed. Spatial units and updated baselines were 
maintained independently. Outcomes: The mangrove coverage in West Bengal rose from 2,097 km² in 2013 to 
2,119.16 km² in 2023, reflecting a decade-long compound annual growth rate of 0.11%. Conversely, delineated 
core and buffer mangroves had a reduction of 58.0 and 51.8 km², respectively, from 2000 to 2020, but transition
zone mangroves expanded by 81.2 km². The newly implemented transition-zone cover compensated for just 74.0% 
of the contiguous core-buffer area loss. Salt-resistant communities proliferated, low-salinity communities 
diminished, and satellite vegetation metrics revealed extensive adverse health patterns. The tiger population 
increased from 70 in 2010 to 100 documented animals in 2022; yet, this favourable trend does not diminish 
concerns over habitat quality and conflict threats. In conclusion, the evaluation of conservation efficacy need to 
include habitat location, connectivity, species composition, ecological state, and community exposure instead of 
only focusing on total mangrove area. Essential measures include safeguarding erosion fronts, managing 
hydrology and sediment, implementing climate-resilient restoration, recovering species, controlling pollutants, 
and ensuring equitable co-management with quantifiable ecological results. A yearly spatially explicit 
biodiversity dashboard need to include reserve-zone acreage, canopy health, coastline location, focal-species 
survey intensity, aquatic biodiversity metrics, and household vulnerability using consistent definitions.