Plastic-Free Mangroves: Small Steps to Save the Mangrove Paradise
It is so peaceful when our boat starts moving through the delta in the early morning, slowly passing the mist. But then if you find a dirty bottle or some plastic floating around, it’s just heartbreaking. Trust me, it’s a big blemish on the beauty of this unique environment.
I know, we all think one chip packet is not a big deal. But when you consider the thousands of other tourists doing the same thing, the amount of trash is just scary.And friends, that’s the gospel. It is this very insignificance of ours that has become today a thorn in the side of the world’s greatest forest.
When the Forest Can’t Breathe
Look, the trees out here are nothing like you see in a local garden. These mangroves are just fantastic because they have roots that grow straight up to catch some oxygen from above. If we keep throwing plastic in there, it’ll go around those roots. like strangling the tree! These roots need air in order for the trees to stay alive. It’s a long, slow death.” And think about the fish – they get to eat our plastic garbage. At the end of the day, all of that plastic trash makes its way back into our own food. Honestly, it’s a pretty scary cycle don’t you think?
So, if ever you are visiting the mangrove sanctuary with your gang or family- just remember one thing. We need to be a lot kinder to this forest. It’s our duty after all!
As tourists, surely we, too, bear a certain responsibility!
We always prepare for an expedition into this forest and get excited to explore, forgetting that we are only guests here. Nature is our host. Just think for a second, is it right to hurt somebody who is inviting us into their home?
Cloth Bags: Get rid of the flimsy plastic bags and opt for a simple cloth bag. It’s a very simple step but oh boy, does it make a difference. This simple choice helps to protect the environment.
Your Bottle Is Best: Why buy plastic bottles again and again? Just bring a simple metal bottle from your home. But it beats buying plastic bottles all the time. And all our boats come with fresh water, so you can top up your bottle when you need to.
Dispose of Waste Properly: Don’t just throw plastic wherever you want. There are bins on the boat for a reason! If we keep the forest clean it looks beautiful for all of us to enjoy.
The Bond Between People and the Land
Just look at it this way—keeping this area environment clean is important because the local people here rely on this forest for every little thing. When these mangrove trees are fine, they collect honey, and when the rivers are clean, they catch fish. So when we go on a trip here, we have one simple goal: to leave the place as we found it. Basically, you go home with nothing but fantastic memories.
And let me tell you, to see a tiger here, or just walk through this wild place, you will never forget. We need to make sure that this forest still feels just as alive years from now. This ain’t only for us, ya know? To be fair, we want our children, or even their children, to have the opportunity to see this wonderful spot with their own eyes. Imagine how proud they would be, standing here and shouting, ‘Wow, so this is the world famous mangrove forest, the real kingdom of the Royal Bengal Tiger!
Closing Remarks
Hi, I am Biswanath Naskar, owner of Sundarban Packages
I want to say something from my heart. I was at Sajnekhali just last Friday and I saw plastic bottles floating in the water. Honestly it was a very sad and painful sight for me. “This forest is our home and it’s breaking our hearts to see it treated this way.”
Everything I have written in this article is based on my own years of personal experience in the mangroves. I appeal to each one of you: please help us to save this beautiful delta. If nature is alive, we are alive. Let’s make a promise to protect this beautiful wild paradise. Believe me, even a small step counts!
