The Tale Of Sinking Islands In India

We all know Kerala as the 'God's Own Country.' But, many parts of the state are like sinking ships.

If you ever got a chance to visit the Munroe Islands in the Kollam district, you would know exactly what I'm speaking. The islands or Thuruthu (in the local language) are actually sinking. 

The place is located at the confluence of Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada river. The base of the Munroe islands is built from the soil and silt accumulated from the floodwaters of the Kallada river, thus, making the soil fertile and attracting farmers from across the state to settle there.

Also, because of the fertile soil, mangroves grew abundantly, hence preventing the chances of soil erosion. 

However, everything turned into a nightmare after the 2004 tsunami, which destroyed half of the mangroves on the Munroe islands. The force of nature also washed away all the slit and the sand off the shore. 

Other than that, the force of the tidal waves from the deep sea has washed away several bedrooms and kitchens, leaving people on that island homeless.

That was the story from the southernmost part of the country. Coming to the northeast, you will find the world's largest mangrove forest, which is also facing a similar kind of danger.

It's the Sundarbans! 

The beauty of Bengal is now a nightmare for all the farmers and animals living there. Over the years, the sea level has been rising to lead to soil erosion by the coast of Bay Bengal. The sea has washed down the houses at Sundarbans, and the saltwater has infected all the farmland due to climate change. 

Well, humans are not the only ones in danger. The Bengal Tigers, who reside in Sundarbans, are losing their natural hunting spots due to the drastic soil erosion.

Over the past two years, four islands have disappeared, and more than 5000 families have been prey to the current climate changes.

There is always a silver lining

Research by Global Mangrove Alliance suggests that there is an urgency to reinforce the global mangrove habitat by 20 per cent by 2030 to improve the climate conditions. 

Mangroves are highly effective carbon sinks, storing more carbon per acre than any other forest type due to carbon sequestration in the soil beneath their roots. If mangrove forests are maintained undisturbed, carbon trapped and stored in coastal ecosystems — they can be kept secure for thousands of years. Mangroves are thought to store up to four times more carbon than tropical forests, according to experts.

If we don't take decisive action, what's left of these unprotected, critically important forests may vanish within a century, and the magnitude of the advantages they provide makes it more evident than ever how urgently we must work for a different conclusion.