THE BIRTH OF AN ISLAND AND EXTENSION OF FOREST IN THE SUNDARBAN AREA OF THE BAY OF BENGAL

(Steps 9,10,11 and 12)

Step 9. 

New shoots are emerging from the root system and acquiring more spaces.

Step 10. 

Grasses are growing more and acquiring spaces all over the island @ 360^o horizontally.

Step 11.

At last the green gasses have covered almost all over the new island.

Step 12. 

By this time, other species of salinity tolerant plantlets come through water streams to occupy the island. Some Sundari plantlets are seen germinating here.  

THE BIRTH OF AN ISLAND AND EXTENSION OF FOREST IN THE SUNDARBAN AREA OF THE BAY OF BENGAL

(Steps 4,5,6,7 and 8)

Step 4. Another newly grown up island is seen on the left side of the photograph. Only different types of salinity tolerant plants have started occupying the land at the moment. Consequently, animals will start coming later after ensuring their food.

Step 5. At first, the Salinity tolerant grasses start growing on the new-born island. Burgeoning roots are the vegetative propagation material of the grasses that start growing new leafs soon after anchoring their roots in the top soil. Sprouting roots are seen on the soft muddy soil.

Step 6. Constant deposition of silts soon covers up the roots of the grass that enables the root system consuming of more nutrients for a vigorous and continuous growth.

	7. Strongly established grass bushes are growing and becoming taller Step 8. Everyday and night rivers have been continuously bringing new raw materials to form the islands in the Bay of Bengal. Sunset is being seen from a new born island near Sundarban.

THE Birth of an island AND EXTENSION OF forest IN the sundarban area of the bay of bengal

(Step 2 & 3)

Step 2. Within 10-15 days, freshwater weeds like water hyacinths die due to excess salinity in the water. At the entering points of the Bay of Bengal there are no water hyacinths seen floating on the Channels. After complete decomposition of the living freshwater fauna, their residues and other river sediments are deposited on the bottom of the Bay of Bengal.

                                     (Photo: Mohammad Abdullah)

You may notice there are no water hyacinth floating in the river.

Step 3. 

A new-born island in the Bay of Bengal. Till the moment, no human being steps on this virgin island for cultivation or living.

(Photo: Mohammad Abdullah)