Mangrove forests on Bangladesh’s Sonadia Island are disappearing as land is cleared for shrimp farming and salt production, raising concerns among environmentalists and local communities.
The island, designated an ecologically critical area, has lost large sections of its mangrove cover in recent years. Residents say fish catches have declined, affecting livelihoods in communities that depend on coastal resources.
Conservationists warn that the loss of mangroves is weakening a natural barrier that helps protect the island from storms, coastal erosion and other climate-related threats. The forests also support biodiversity and provide habitat for migratory birds in an internationally recognised wildlife sanctuary.
While Bangladesh has launched reforestation efforts, environmental groups say weak enforcement continues to allow encroachment and forest destruction to persist.
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