The vanishing pharmacy of the Sundarbans | Climate Crisis
Sundarbans Struggles as Climate Change Alters Ecosystem
The Sundarbans, spanning 10,000 square kilometers across Bangladesh and India, serves as a vital habitat for the Royal Bengal tiger, saltwater crocodiles, and over 300 plant species. Approximately 2.7 million people reside in coastal districts surrounding the forest in Bangladesh, relying on its resources for food, firewood, and medicinal needs.
For generations, local communities have depended on traditional healers known as kabiraj, who provide healthcare in remote areas where formal medical services can be scarce or prohibitively expensive. These practitioners utilize remedies derived from local flora, with knowledge of their uses passed down through generations. A 2011 study conducted in Barisal Division indicated that nearly one-third of rural households sought assistance from kabiraj or similar healers.
However, escalating sea levels and frequent cyclones are encroaching on coastal ecosystems, driving saltwater deeper into the region. Between 2017 and 2021, salinity levels in tidal waters increased from 21 to 33 parts per thousand during the pre-monsoon season, with soil salinity growing by 31 percent.
While mangroves have adapted to saltwater, the tolerance levels vary by species. Notably, the Sundari (Heritiera fomes) is experiencing a decline, and the Bain (Avicennia officinalis), an essential source of nectar for bees, has ceased flowering in certain areas. The loss of these and other medicinal plants is becoming increasingly apparent to local practitioners.
Suranjan, a kabiraj, observes the shifting landscape firsthand. “Before, during the tide, the forest did not sink completely; the higher ground remained dry,” he recalled. “Now, the forest is completely underwater, and many trees are dying because of the saltwater.” He notes a decline in species like hogla, used for treating wounds, and bain, which is used in traditional medicine and supports bee populations.
“My father collected over 100 medicinal plants from around the country and cultivated them in our garden,” Suranjan said. “But after Cyclone Aila in 2009, saltwater invaded, and all our plants perished.”
Professor Md Abdur Rahim, chairman of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, describes a forest in flux. “Salt is slowly rewriting the forest. The resilient trees may survive, but the medicinal plants that kabiraj depend on are disappearing,” he explained. “As salinity rises, the forest changes: salt-loving species proliferate while delicate medicinal plants gradually vanish.”
A Season Without Flowers
Nearby, a tea stall beside the Shakbaria River serves as a gathering place for villagers. Customers sip strong black tea, sharing conversations about the forest and its changing conditions. The morning rain has left puddles and low-hanging clouds over the river.
Chapal Raptan, a local honey collector, expressed concern over the absence of flowers on the bain trees this season. “This should be the time for bain flowers,” he said. “But this year, not a single bain tree has bloomed. There is no bain honey at all.”
His statement sparked a wave of agreement from others, reflecting a shared disbelief. “We have never seen this in our lifetime,” one villager remarked, affirming the unsettling change in their environment.
For those who have spent their lives in the Sundarbans, the missing blooms signify more than just a poor honey harvest; it indicates a profound shift in a familiar landscape. Suranjan cited other medicinal plants like neem, ashwagandha, and haritaki that have become harder to find in Koyra.
Suranjan’s frustration is evident. “Collecting medicinal plants is becoming increasingly difficult,” he commented. “Without the necessary medicines in my collection, I cannot provide my patients with what they need when they come.”
