Mapping the impact of climate change on vegetation dynamics in the Sundarbans

Despite of its recognized importance, the Sundarbans has lost 50% of its original areal extent within the last 200 years due to numerous natural and anthropogenic forces (Siddiqi, 2001). Conversion to agriculture, encroachment, over-exploitation of forests, reduction in freshwater flows, increasing salinity, extreme weather events, and water and soil pollution are the forces that have played an important role in the historical and ongoing degradation of the Sundarbans mangrove forest (Agrawala et al., 2003; Ghosh, 2018; Islam & Gnauck, 2009; Payo et al., 2016). The construction of Farkka barrage by the Indian government has reduced the freshwater flow in the dry season resulting to the increase of salinity which has greatly affected the composition of vegetation including top dying diseases of threatened Sundri species (Heritiera fomes) (Chowdhury et al., 2016; M. A. Hoque et al., 2006). Increasing temperature has also a great impact on increasing salinity in the Sundarbans. Beside, changing climate, particularly, rise in sea level and changes in rainfall patterns and temperature are likely to have a substantial influence on the Sundarbans (Dasgupta et al., 2017). However, very few studies documented the impact of these climatic events on the vegetation dynamics in the Sundarbans.

 Objectives of the Study 

The general objective of the study is to study the spatial and temporal impact of climate change on vegetation dynamics in the Sundarbans

The specific objectives are given below-

·         To investigate and map annual changes of the composition of vegetation in the Sundarbans for 50 years from 1970s.

·         To develop google earth engine apps to monitor vegetation changes in the Sundarbans.

·         To investigate the relationship between climatic variables (temperature, precipitation, sea level rise) and vegetation dynamics in the Sundarbans for 50 years.

·         To predict future changes in vegetation dynamics with the predicted climatic change for the next 100 years. 

• Research Project