Successive cyclones attacked the world's largest mangrove forest located in the bay of bengal under pandemic
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2022
Abstract
Despite the global focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, the promise of impact to tropical coastlines and stochasticity of destruction caused by tropical cyclones remains unaltered, forcing human societies to adapt to new unadaptable scenarios. Super Cyclone Amphan's landfall-the third cyclone of the season within the world's largest mangrove forest-brought a new uncertainty to this undeveloped region of South Asia. How do vulnerable people deal with multiple disasters that limit necessary humanitarian response while still maintaining the natural environmental integrity of a system harboring critical wildlife populations and protecting people from further disaster? We explored this reality for the Sundarbans region using a remote sensing technique and found that the western part of Sundarbans mangroves was severely damaged by Amphan, suggesting that rapid remote sensing techniques can help direct resources, and recognize the eventuality that response will be a best effort for now. If 2020 is a window, multiple disaster management scenarios may become more common in the future. Yet, society's obligation for maintaining environmental integrity remains unchanged.
Keywords
Amphan, Cyclone, Mangrove, Pandemic, Sundarbans
Divisions
ocean
Funders
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development Program (SATREPS),Universiti Malaya [Grant No: RU009C-2018]
Publication Title
Sustainability
Volume
14
Issue
9
Publisher
MDPI
Publisher Location
ST ALBAN-ANLAGE 66, CH-4052 BASEL, SWITZERLAND