Sonadia Island, a seven square kilometer island of Northeastern Bangladesh declared ‘Ecologically Critical Area’ in 1999 now with manmade mangrove and non-mangrove forests developed into a natural sanctuary for numerous wildlife and birds.
“As part of massive campaign of biodiversity conservation, we have declared 3,191 acres of land as reserve forest in 2014 to ensure ecological balance in the coastal area. A total of 1756 acres of mangrove forest and 884 acres of jhauban have so far been developed at Sonadia Island, “ Divisional Forest Officer of Coastal Forest Division RSM Munirul Islam told BSS.
Visitors who will travel through waters ways from Moheshkhali channel to Sonadia through canals spread like spider web will find Mangrove and non Mangrove growth on the banks where different species of wildlife live and use mangrove forests inside the Island as their breeding ground.
Tamarisk forest along the bay of Bengal enhance beauty of the island as well as it protects residents of island from natural disasters.
Forest Department is launching afforestation activities through the Climate Resilient Participatory Afforestation and Reforestation Project at the Sonadia Island to expand forest coverage with both mangrove and non-mangrove trees, Munirul Islam said.
“We are also implementing two sub-projects under the Strengthening Regional Co-Operation for Wildlife Protection Project for conservation of different critical endangered species of wildlife and birds,” he said adding olive riddle turtle and spoon-billed sand piper both are very rare in the world and they are on the verge of extinction.
Olive riddle turtle are only seen at the Sonadia Island and breeding period of this threatened turtle is winter season, Munirul added.
“Several thousands of Babies of olive riddle turtle are released at the bay of Bengal every year as part of conservation of the wildlife,” he added.
“The spoon-billed snadipiper is a small wader, which breeds in north-eastern Russia and the rare bird is seen during winter season at the Sonadia Island. The spoon-billed sandpiper is hurtling towards extinction. The spoon-billed sandpiper is facing imminent extinction as fewer than 100 pairs remain in the world, Munirul said adding ten pairs are seen at the Sonadia Island last winter season.
Sonadia Island’s importance for wildlife has been given international recognition by BirdLife International, a global conservation organization.
Sonadia Island has been declared as 20th Important Bird Area (IBA) of Bangladesh by BirdLife International. Sonadia Island also supports the globally endangered Nordmann’s Greenshank, as well as other threatened birds such as Great Knot, Asian Dowitcher, Eurasian Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit, they added.
