Scientists to study climate change impact in Sunderbans

Researchers from India, Britain and Bangladesh are studying the impact of climate change on livelihoods of those living in Sunderbans mangroves, the world's largest mangrove forests.

More than two-thirds of the forest lies in Bangladesh, the focus of the study, and the rest in West Bengal.

Under the ongoing Ecosystem Services For Poverty Alleviation (Deltas) project, as many as 50 experts from the three countries are investigating the impact of climate change on ecosystem services (benefits derived from ecosystems by humanity) and the health and well-being of the community.

"We will estimate the possible changes in ecosystem services due to climate change in the next 50 to 60 years and the possible outcomes of the changes," Tuhin Ghosh, School of Oceanographic Studies, Jadavpur University, and leader of the Indian team, told IANS.

"The next step would be to recommend policies for intervention," he said.

For the pilot study, the coastal fringe of Bangladesh, from Bengal to the Meghna river (of the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta) has been marked.

The four-year long study was initiated in March 2012 and is headed by coastal engineering expert Robert Nicholls from Southampton University.

The group of scientists are currently in Sunderbans for the third six-monthly review of the project.