The Sundarban Region in India is located between 21°32' and 22°40'N latitude and 88°30'N and 89°00' longitude. It is bounded by the river Hooghly on the west, Ichamati-Kalindi-Raimangal on the east, Dampier-Hodges line on the north and the bay of Bengal on the south.

The total area of Indian Sundarban region is about 9630 sq. km., out of which the Reserve Forest occupies nearly 4260 sq. km. At present, out of 108 islands of the Sundarban region, 54 are inhabited with a population of about 3.2 million (1991 census), spread over 1093 mouzas.

Constitution of Sundarban Biosphere Reserve

As part of the Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB), accepted in the general conference of the UNESCO in 1970, the Ministry of Environment of Forests, Govt. of India adopted the National MAB programme and declared the entire 9630 sq. km. of Sundarban as the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve in 1989. Sundarban Biosphere Reserve has also been included in the World Network of Biospheres by UNESCO in November, 2001.

The extent of mangrove Reserved Forest in Indian Sundarban is around 4260 sq. km., which is administratively divided into Sunderban Tiger Reserve (area = 2600 sq. km.) and 24 Pgs. (S) Forest Divn. (area = 1660 sq. km.). Out of this total recorded forest area, 55% is under vegetation cover and balance 45% is under water body/ char land.

Park/ Sanctuary Area
Sunderban National Park 1330 sq. km.
Saznekhali Wildlife Sanctuary 362 sq. km.
Lothian Wildlife Sanctuary 38 sq. km.
Haliday Wildlife Sanctuary 6 sq. km.

The Importance of Sunderban Forest:

Sunderbans of Bangladesh and India is the single largest mangrove forest of the world.
The only mangrove forest of the world having largest floral and faunal diversity.
The only mangrove forest having a Tiger population.
Home of several endangered, threatened and endemic floral and faunal species.
Sunderban mangrove acts as a fish nursery and supports coastal fisheries along Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean.
Sunderban forest acts as a sink for the mega-metropoliton pollutants.
The mangrove forest provides protection to inland habitations against the fury of cyclones.
Floral and Faunal Diversity of Sunderban Mangroves:

Included in Sch. I & II of WLP Act

Mammals = 15
Birds = 8
Reptiles = 17
Total species included in Sch. I of WLP Act = 24
Total species included in Appendix I
of CITES Regulation = 14

Population of Royal Bengal Tiger:

Forest Area 1993 1997 1999
Sunderban R.F. 251 263 284

Number of captive-bred Crocodiles released in STR between 1979 and 1999 = 359
Number of captive-bred Olive Ridley Turtles released in STR between 1995 and 1999 = 971
Threats to Mangrove Eco-system in Indian Sunderbans:
The threats to the mangrove eco-system are partly biotic pressure from the environment and, partly due to human induced or natural changes in the fringe area zone of influence along the western & northern surrounds. These can be outlined as below:
Reduced flow of sweet water into Sunderban mangrove system- Due to shift in the fresh water flow from the Hooghly river system into Padma river, major fresh water rivers like Matla & Bidyadhari got cut off from its fresh water sources and are now mostly tidal rivers. As a result, less of fresh water flushing of the mangroves take place during low tide, and resultant increase in salinity level in the water western forest of Sundarban. This is including changes in the vegetation pattern and formation of saline blanks inside the islands. Construction of barrages in the upper catchment has further stopped silt flow into the estuary. Construction of embankments to protect human settlements - it affects the drainage system and cuts off the sweet water flow into adjoining areas, resulting in increased salinity in these areas. Also, due to embankments, the silt deposition along the inner banks and river beds from the tidal waves have raised the levels of river beds higher than the level of human settlements. Extension of non-forestry land use into mangrove forest- The increased pressure on land for expansion of activities like aqua-culture, prawn farming, drying of sea-fish etc are posing direct threat to the exisisting mangrove forests, specially in northern and north-western and south-western peripheries of non-Tiger Project reserved Forest lands. Demand for small timber and fuel wood for local consumption- From 1999 onwards, there has been total stoppage of harvesting of annual coupes (around 1200 ha )in Sunderban forests. There is no system of meeting the local needs except for issuing fuel wood permits to local fishermen entering into the Reserved forests with permits for fishing. Moreover, illicit harvesting of timber and fuel wood from the fringe areas of Reserved Forests of Tiger Project and 24-parganas (South) Division is common and the produce mostly finds its way to far-off towns and even Calcutta.

Uncontrolled collection of prawn seedlings- Collection of shrimp/ prawn seeds by crude method by the local villagers, of almost all age groups, for supplying to the commercial prawn culture firms has become an extremely attractive economic activity for the jobless people. They undertake a lot of risks and health hazard in the process .But in the process of such prawn seed collection, they destroy the seeds of many other fish species. The activity is highly unsustainable.
Uncontrolled fishing in the water of Reserve Forests- No correct data is available on exploitation of fish and hence the effect of fishing in the estuary and coastal area is almost unknown. Moreover, unscientific fishing practises including non-usage of TED by the trawlers causes great damage to fishery stock and sea turtle population.
Poaching of tiger, spotted deer, wild boar, marine turtles, horse shoe crab etc- Many species like Tiger, fishing cat, gangetic dolphin, porpoise, adjutant stork, salt water crocodile, Olive Ridley Turtle etc have received the endangered status due to habitat destruction/ changes, increased salinity, anthropogenic stress and illegal trade. Horseshoe crab, a living fossil, is one such example. Though every year a few cases of tiger poaching is detected and/or tiger skins recovered, yet the extent of actual poaching is not fully known. The common technique of poaching of tiger and spotted deer is the use of nylon-rope traps laid in the forest. Killing of tigers, straying into the villages, is also not uncommon. Between 1990 and 2000, 15 tigers deaths have been recorded. 21 tiger skins have been recovered between 1994 and 2001.
Long International Border along the Eastern boundary of Indian Sunderban - The International and National poachers' gangs take advantage of the same and implementation of vigilance and regulations become difficult for obvious reasons.
Continuous trampling of river/creek banks by fishermen and prawn seed collectors - The prawn seed collectors and fishermen, continuously walking along the banks and mudflats, adds to the bank erosion.Exploitation of mullascan shells for lime manufacture- It prevents calcium recycling into the system and affects the ecological balance.
Chemical pollution through marine paints and hydrocarbons- A large no. of Mechanised boats and Launches contribute to such pollution of the mangrove ecosystem.
Capital dredging of riverbeds - It is done to improve navigability of large vessels and oil tankers. Such operation directly affects the benthic flora and fauna and also indirectly, the fishery stock is also affected. The dredging also increases S.P.M. and adversely affects the primary production rate.
Straying of tiger into villages along the western boundary of Sundarban Tiger Reserve and north-western fringes of 24-Parganas (South) Forest Division- It causes acute man-animal conflict which poses direct threat to conservation efforts. The tiger straying is highest along the northern fringe of S.T.R where narrow tidal creeks separate the Reserved Forest from the densely populated villages.
Organizational and infrastructural deficiencies- Shortage of field staff and patrolling vessels poses severe limitation towards effective management.
Socio-political conflicts- Being situated in one of the most inaccessible regions of the state, the hitherto strong Panchayet system is not very effectively operational in this zone. Developmental efforts are sometimes marred by petty local politics and organized criminals exploit the poverty of fringe villagers for depredation of forest, wildlife and the Sunderban Bio-diversity as a whole.
Proposed International Waterways- Opening up of an International Waterways through the core area of the STR will cause sound and water pollution which will seriously affect the fish production and also threaten the Tiger and the prey spp.
Off-shore drilling for oil- Such explorations are naturally fraught with major disturbance to this delicate and fragile eco-system of Sunderban.