The study found that the mangrove forests in the Sunderbans, which naturally absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, are losing their capacity to do so. Rising salinity of water, deforestation, and pollution have reduced the growth and absorption ability of the dominant mangrove species, Byne trees. In particular, the central Sunderbans region now absorbs 22 tons of carbon per hectare compared to over 30 tons in other areas, threatening the ecosystem. The loss of "blue carbon" absorption will increase the amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

1. 8/10/2014 Sunderbans Mangrove Trees Losing Capacityto Absorb CO2: Study
http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/Sunderbans-Mangrove-Trees-Losing-Capacity-to-Absorb-CO2-Study/853069 1/4
NEWS
0
FILE - PHOTO BY PUNEET K. PALIWAL
Sunderbans Mangrove Trees Losing Capacity
to Absorb CO2: Study
PRADIPTA TAPADAR, KOLKATA | AUG 04, 2014
Tweet 13 PRINT COMMENTS
The vast mangrove forest in the Sunderbans is fast losing its capacity to absorb carbon
dioxide, one of the main greenhouse gases, from the atmosphere due to rise in the
salinity of water, rampant deforestation and pollution, a study has found.
The mangrove forest, marsh grass, phytoplanktons, molluscus and other coastal
vegetation in the world's largest delta are the natural absorbers of carbon dioxide
(CO2), according to the study.
The stored carbon in the plants is known as "Blue Carbons". The absorption of CO2 is
a process which contributes to reduction of the warming of the earth and other ill
effects of climate change.
The research study, "Blue Carbon Estimation in Coastal Zone of Eastern India -
Sunderbans", was financed by the Union government and headed by noted marine
scientist Abhijit Mitra.
The report took three years to prepare and it was submitted to the government last
year.
The scientists involved in the study have sounded an alarm bell, especially in the
central Sunderbans, one of the three zones into which the forest was divided for the
study, the other two being western and eastern.
"The situation is quite alarming, especially in the central part. The capacity of the
mangrove forest, especially the Byne species, to absorb carbon dioxide has eroded to
a large extent. This will effect the entire ecosystem of the area," Sufia Zaman, a senior
marine biologist who was a part of the team, told PTI.
According to Mitra, the study was conducted mainly on the Byne species of mangrove.
There are 34 other species of mangroves found in the forest including Keora and
Genwa.
Mitra said, "In the central part of Sunderbans near Matla, the capability of Byne trees to
absorb carbon was 22 tonnes per hectare, whereas the scenario is a bit different in the
eastern Sunderbans where the capacity of Byne to absorb carbons is near about 35
tonnes per hectare."
Mitra felt that the situation was fraught with danger because less absorption of CO2
from the atmosphere meant higher proportion of CO2 in the atmosphere which trapped
PHOTOS NEWS BLOGS LATEST
Black Money: India Gets 24,000 Pieces of Secret Foreign
Data
Passenger Plane Carrying 40 People Crashes in Iran:
Report
Drug Industry Seeks Dialogue With Govt to Resolve Pricing
Row
65 Victims of MH17 Identified, Last Experts Home
Laser Show, Street Fete Part of Civic Bodies' Plan to Mark I-
Day
'Sadaat Hasan Manto Finest Chronicler of Mumbai'
India Extends Export Benefits to Rupee Trade With Iran
Typhoon Halong Makes Landfall on Japan's Western Main
Island
Three Critical Rail Lines to Evacuate Coal May Take Time
Give Dept-Wise Details of Whistleblowers Complaints: CIC
to CVC
SHORT TAKES
09 AUG 2014, 6:09:31 AM | BUZZ
Twitanic(Anil Kohli)
S
14Like Share
Search OutlookMAGAZINE WEB NEWS BLOGS PHOTOS REGULARS SECTIONS RANTS & RAVES
Outlook Traveller Business Money Images Hindi Follow us:

2. 8/10/2014 Sunderbans Mangrove Trees Losing Capacityto Absorb CO2: Study
http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/Sunderbans-Mangrove-Trees-Losing-Capacity-to-Absorb-CO2-Study/853069 2/4
0
TRANSLATE INTO: Select Language Pow ered by Translate
from the atmosphere meant higher proportion of CO2 in the atmosphere which trapped
heat.
Comparing the situation with mangrove forests in Indonesia and Vietnam where too
studies were conducted, Mitra said, "In Indonesia, the absorption capacity of carbons is
114 tonnes/hectare. Whereas in Vietnam the quantity is 80-90/tonnes per hectare."
Going into the reasons for the scenario in the Sunderbans, a UNESCO world heritage
site, Mitra said, "One of the main reasons is a sharp rise in the salinity of water in Matla
river."
"The mangroves grow on fresh water, but because of lack of fresh water the height of
mangroves has come down substantially, reducing its capacity to absorb carbons," he
said. He points out that as fresh water is available in eastern Sunderabans, the trees
there are taller.
Owing to deposition of silt at the confluence of the Vidyadhari and Matla rivers, fresh
water is unable to enter the Matla river, giving rise to its salinity, he says.
"The other reasons are shrimp farming, mushrooming of brick kiln industry and
deforestation which together have added to the reduced growth of Byne mangroves,"
Mitra said.
He explained that the situation was better in the eastern Sunderbans where there was
less human incursion as well as in the western part which was fed by a regular supply
of fresh water from the Hooghly river.
According to Mitra, if steps are not taken to remove the silt deposits at the meeting
point of the Vidyadhari and Malta rivers, the situation may get worse. He suggested
dredging of the channel and afforestation besides checking shrimp farming.
FILED ON: AUG 04, 2014 12:06 IST
FILED IN: ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY | ANIMALS & WILDLIFE | KOLKATA
Follow us on Twitter for all updates, like us on Facebook for important and fun stuff
© Copyright PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of any PTI content, including by framing or
similar means, is expressly prohibited without their prior written consent.
PRADIPTA TAPADAR, KOLKATA | AUG 04, 2014
Tweet 13 PRINT COMMENTS
Did you ever expect to
see this Maxim photo
shoot?
Fans probably didn't
expect this James Bond
news
Porn star visits mall
after violent threats
At what age do you lose
your attractiveness
What are they doing to
this man?
3 tips to help a grieving
pet
Twitanic(Anil Kohli)
@anilkohli54
Follow
PROMOTED CONTENT AROUND THE WEB
Exchange f rom: idealmedia.com
ELSEWHERE IN OUTLOOK
Tirupati Diary
K. Natwar Singh
Seven Days
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Reema Abbasi
Nobody Beats Indian Cows
After The Clouds Have Gone
Asleep In Jacob’s Room
Bibliofile
An Ode To Climate Change Predictions
MOST VIEWED MOST COMMENTED
'Fifty Shades Of Grey' Actress Bans Parents From Attending
Premiere
Top Government Media Bureaucrats Shunted
Girls Feel They Must 'Play Dumb' to Please Boys: Study
Time to Ensure BJP Ideology Imprints on National Politics: Shah
China Ticks off Kerry for Being Late
Know Your Place: Turkish PM to 'Shameless Woman' Journo
Was Treated Better Than My Expectation in Pak: BSF Jawan
Uproar in LS as TDP MP Asks Women to 'Dress Dignifiedly'
NCP Man Wears a Rs 1.4 Cr Gold Shirt for His Birthday
Rahul Says UP Riots 'Deliberately Engineered', BJP Hits Back
Go to Complete List
Find us on Facebook
Outlookindia
689,302 people like Outlookindia.
Like
14Like Share
► CO2 ► Lead India ► West Indian ► Gaza City

3. 8/10/2014 Sunderbans Mangrove Trees Losing Capacityto Absorb CO2: Study
http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/Sunderbans-Mangrove-Trees-Losing-Capacity-to-Absorb-CO2-Study/853069 3/4
MORE FROM OUTLOOK MAGAZINE
The Roadmap We
Must Make As We Go
| Massive challenges
face the Narendra
Modi government.
Here are some of our
bigger ailments...
Float And Cruise |
Ganga elicits fine
emotions, but not
workable plans, from
the Centre
“Hope India Won’t
Start Using State
Power To Muzzle Civil
Society” | The
executive director of
Greenpeace
International believes
civil obedience to be
a...
Cometh The Hour... |
The ceremony is over,
now to the task of
governance. So far, the
rewards have been...
MORE FROM OUTLOOK WEB
The Roads To
Nowhere | The
politicians seem only
to demand that we
should go further and
faster, on a journey...
Reframing The Planet
| People who think they
are protecting nature
by costing it are
stepping straight into...
Apple Opacity | Apple
offers 21st Century
technology – with 19th
Century ethics.
'Reverse The Out-Of-
Court Bhopal
Settlement' | Activists
write to the US
President: 'Whose
'ass' should the
citizens of Bhopal
kick...
MORE FROM OUTLOOK NEWS
Monkey's Selfie
Sparks Copyright
Row
Water Wonder by
Delhi School Girl
NDMC Hires 40
People to Dress Up
As Langurs And
Scare Away Monkeys
From Parliament
Study Finds Antibiotic
Residues in Delhi
Poultry
MORE FROM OUTLOOK BLOGS
Photo Of The Day What The Potato
Chips Overheard
Twerking With Helen
Mirren
How Everyone Loves
To Hate Chetan
Bhagat
RELATED NEWS :
Drones to Guard Forests and Wildlife AUG 06, 2014
Asaram's Delhi Ashram Has Illegal Constructions: NGT Told AUG 05, 2014
China to Ban All Coal Use in Beijing by 2020 AUG 05, 2014
Villagers Hail Order Banning Coal Mining in Meghalaya AUG 05, 2014
Lavasa Area Too Faces Landslide Threat: Patkar AUG 04, 2014
GPCB Appoints Expert to Study Polluted River Stretches AUG 04, 2014
Water Wonder by Delhi School Girl AUG 03, 2014
Maoists Warn Timber Mafia in Orissa Against Felling Trees AUG 03, 2014
Germany Keen to Share Know-How, Funds for Ganges Clean-Up AUG 03, 2014
NGT Upholds Ban on Coal Mining in Meghalaya AUG 02, 2014
Kolkata: Fire at Burrabazar Building, No Casualty AUG 02, 2014
Mamata Meets President at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata AUG 01, 2014
Govt for Cleaner Energy Through Well Defined Roadmap: Javadekar AUG 01, 2014
UCC Can't Be Sued for Bhopal Plant Contamination: US Court AUG 01, 2014
Writer Nabarun Bhattacharya Dies at 66 JUL 31, 2014
Taslima Nasreen Upset Over Being Given 2-Month Visa JUL 31, 2014
Can Declare Sanctuaries As Tiger Reserves Only After 2017: Goa JUL 31, 2014
Few Wetlands Impacted Due to Urbanisation, Development: Govt JUL 31, 2014
NDMC Hires 40 People to Dress Up As Langurs And Scare Away Monkeys From
Parliament JUL 31, 2014
India-US to Work Closely on Climate Change: Javadekar JUL 30, 2014
RSS Outfits Oppose GM Crop Trials, Govt Says No Decision Yet JUL 29, 2014
Facebook social plugin
Click
► Lead India ► West Indian ► Gaza City ► Modi India
Comment
Add a comment...

4. 8/10/2014 Sunderbans Mangrove Trees Losing Capacityto Absorb CO2: Study
http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/Sunderbans-Mangrove-Trees-Losing-Capacity-to-Absorb-CO2-Study/853069 4/4
Post a Comment
Share your thoughts
You are not logged in, please log in or register
ABOUT US | CONTACT US | SUBSCRIBE | ADVERTISING RATES | COPYRIGHT & DISCLAIMER | COMMENTS POLICY
OUTLOOK TOPICS: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Or just type in a few initial letters of a topic: go
WEB MAGAZINE SECTIONS INTERACTIVE FEATURES REGULARS RESOURCES
Articles
Blogs
Photos
Short Takes
News
Current Issue
Back Issues
Special Issues
Subscribe Print Edition
Subscribe Digital Edition
Arts & Entertainment
Books
Business
International
National
Society
Sports
Rants & Raves
Polls
Quiz
Book Reviews
Cover Stories
Documents
Essays
Interviews
Opinions
Portraits
Profiles
10 Questions
Bibliofile
Bull's Eye
Cartoons
Diary
Glitterati
Letters
Polscape
Polsutra
Secret Diary
Show Time
Archive
Authors
Log-in/Registration
Most Popular
Topics: A-Z
Facebook social plugin