Mon Sep 23 23:09:02 UTC 2024: ## Drones Help Scientists Monitor Endangered Mangrove Forests in the Sundarbans

**Kolkata, India** – Vishal Jaiswal, a 27-year-old drone pilot, is using his childhood hobby to help protect the world’s largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans. He recently completed a project mapping a portion of the vast ecosystem, which spans over 4,000 square miles across coastal India and Bangladesh.

The Sundarbans, while not currently considered endangered by the IUCN, faces threats from climate change, human activities, and a lack of research data. Scientists are turning to technology, like Jaiswal’s drones, to monitor the forest’s health.

One key concern is the impact of rising sea levels on the mangroves. To understand this, researchers are using a new technique involving lidar scanners mounted on steel rods driven into the mud. This advanced method provides extremely accurate measurements of the mangrove’s height in relation to sea level, which is crucial for understanding the forest’s resilience.

“We are seeing a loss in dense mangrove cover in the Sundarbans,” says Dr. Sahadev Sharma, a consultant scientist to the USDA Forestry Service. “Patches on the western coast are extremely fragmented and eroded due to shrimp farming and development.”

While the new technology is more expensive than traditional methods, it is already making a difference. Measuring sites have been established in the Andaman Islands, Sundarbans, and Coringa, with plans to expand to Bhitarkanika National Park in Orissa.

The impact of mangrove loss is felt directly by local communities. Fisherman Laxman Anna, who lives in Andhra Pradesh, blames the destruction of mangroves for dwindling fish catches. He says, “Imagine a day when I made just 60 cents for my entire day in the creek, as there were no fishes. Barely enough to sustain my family of five.”

However, there is hope. Anna shares that local communities are now planting saplings and working with NGOs and the forest department to restore the mangroves. “Things are changing,” he says. “I am able to get a good catch and make around seven to eight dollars a day, which is a good catch for my survival.”

As researchers continue to gather data using advanced technology, the fight to protect the Sundarbans and its vital ecosystem is gaining momentum.

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