Why are Bangladesh’s Sundarbans catching fire? Reduced water inflow, increasing dry areas may be the cause

A fire erupted in Bangladesh’s Sundarbans in the first week of May, which took almost four days to extinguish. A week later, nearby residents began demanding the mangroves be protected through a robust management system. The Sundarbans, the region’s natural shield, protected these villagers from natural disasters while also providing them with a source of income. 

The blaze broke out in East Sundarbans on May 5, 2024, a short distance from Amorbunia village in Morelganj upazila (sub-district) of Bagerhat district, Bangladesh. Many villagers are close to tears, as the mangroves are extremely valuable for them — the forests saved many lives during Cyclones Sidr in 2007 and Aila in 2009. Villagers are also collecting honey from the forests, as it is the honey gathering season. 

Between 1970 and 2024, the forest department and local residents reported 40 fire incidents in the same Sundarbans area. But the period between 2002 and 2024 saw 25 fires — indicating fire events maybe witnessing a rise. The forests have also witnessed a reduction in water inflow and an increase in dry regions, making the mangroves vulnerable.

Fires in Bangladesh’s East Sundarbans are now occurring almost every year during the dry season. The May 5 blaze damaged approximately 13 acres of forest. Ajmal Hossain (45), a resident of Amorbunia village, said, “Sundarban is our life. If it is not protected, we cannot survive. Save the Sundarbans, save us.”

Bangladesh’s Sundarbans are prone to frequent fires, cyclones, excess salinity, and even damage from high tidal pressures. However, no steps are taken to improve Sundarbans management. The forest department’s lack of manpower, budget, and vehicles is nothing new.

These issues have remained unresolved for many years. Each fire incident in the Sundarbans results in the formation of an inquiry committee. The committees make several recommendations for forest conservation, but the recommendations remain buried in the file.

Kazi Muhammad Nurul Karim, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Sundarbans East Division, said, “It was possible to bring the fire under control within a short period of time. Earlier, after the incidents in the fire, the investigation committee recommended digging the river and canal. Some canals of Sundarbans, including the Bhola river, will be dug next year. We will do everything as planned.”

While the Sundarbans in West Bengal, India are smaller than in Bangladesh, they are better managed — the forests are fenced with nylon nets to prevent tigers from straying, reducing human-tiger conflicts. India also has a separate dedicated ministerial office to manage the Sunderbans, called the department of Sundarban affairs, under the West Bengal government. 

Several inquiry committees formed after fire incidents in Bangladesh have recommended similar nylon rope fencing but to no avail. Tiger, crocodile and snake attacks on nearby residents are regular occurrences in the country. 

Meanwhile, demands to form a separate ministry have not been heeded yet and the mangroves are under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change of Bangladesh that looks after all environmental matters in the country. 

Why do forests catch fire repeatedly?

This reporter has visited many areas of East Sundarbans in Bangladesh and discovered that the canals that connect villages to the Sundarbans have dried up. The region is also at an elevation. In the summers, ponds inside the mangroves also dry up. 

The forest in an area stretching two to three kilometres south of the northern boundary, from Katakhali in the west to Daser Bharani in the east, is among the elevated areas. Because of this elevation, water levels remain low here except during the monsoon season. 

The Kharma river, which borders this area to the north, has gradually filled up over time, becoming more like a canal. During low tide, it dries up completely, with only some water flowing in from Bhola river during high tide. This dryness makes the forests in this area prone to fires, which can quickly spread due to the lack of manpower in the forest department to contain them.

Like other times, an inquiry committee has been formed after this fire. But the committee’s findings and recommendations are expected to remain the same.

Other panels have highlighted factors such as severe heatwaves, insufficient rainfall and droughts as contributing to frequent fires. Additionally, they have pointed out that fires started by honey collectors, cigarettes discarded by fishers and retaliatory actions by individuals involved in forest crimes have also played a role. Experts agree that inadequate management is a key reason why fires continue to occur in the Sundarbans.

The main suggestion from the inquiry committee is to clear out 40 kilometres of canals and three ponds. They also propose hiring more staff for the forest department, improving patrols by forest guards, building three observation towers, putting up a nylon rope fence along a 35-km stretch of the Chandpai area in the Sundarbans, constructing a river fire station and dredging the Bhola river, which has silted up near the forest.

Sundarbans management needs boost

Professor Wasiul Islam from Khulna University of Bangladesh, specialising in Forestry and Wood Technology, highlighted a major concern: the reduced water flow in the forest.

“Cooperation between the Forest Department, the Department of Shipping and those responsible for river management is crucial. If land is cut within the forest for canal excavation, it will cause the forest to rise, ultimately harming the mangrove environment. This aspect should be taken into account when planning canal projects,” he said.

M Zakir Hossain Khan, chief executive of Change Initiative, a non-governmental research organisation and analyst on the Sundarbans, stated that Bangladesh’s Sundarbans face the risk of fires due to both natural and human causes. 

“Naturally, rivers are filling up with silt, causing the forests to dry out, thereby increasing the fire risk. Additionally, discarded cigarettes from fishermen or honey collectors can ignite fires, while local troublemakers may deliberately start them,” Khan said.

He pointed out the need to update the outdated forest law. “The century-old forest law requires updating and it’s crucial that natural forests aren’t exploited for profit. Local communities should play a role in conserving the Sundarbans,” he added.

One of the most important features of the mangroves is that the forest land sinks in the tides and floats in the ebb tides, pointed out Noor Alam Sheikh, joint secretary of Bangladesh Environment Movement. “The forest is flooded twice a day and night. But that ecosystem has been disrupted in areas of fire. It will be difficult to protect the Sundarbans in the absence of this ecosystem,” he said. 

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