This book is the outcome of rigorous and continuous research work done by the author over about three decades on the open ecosystem and dynamic environment of the estuarine Sunderbans. The objective of this work is to identify the field and factors changing gradually upon this active delta over the years, decades and centuries. The deltaic Sunderbans yet not mature enough, has been changing in its natural course with time. Further, anthropogenic interferences disturb the environments and accelerate degradation of nature of this fragile ecosystem simultaneously. Roles played by almost all the agents including man and environment and their involvement are identified for the changing environmental scenario of the Sunderbans. The book is befitted for the researchers and students for the post graduate levels. The Sunderbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering parts of Bangladesh and the southern tip of Indian state of West Bengal, is a part of world's largest deltaic plain of fluvio-marine deposit formed by the Ganges and Brahmaputra at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal. It is the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world, conspicuous for its great size and biodiversity. With an enormous network of channels and creeks, tidal inundation twice daily, Sunderbans mangroves wetland is a dynamic and complex ecosystem, which undergoes continuous processes of erosion and accretion. Natural processes like changes in local hydrology, sediment motion under wind, wave and tidal action, beach dynamics, regional and global processes like sea level rise as well as the impact of human interference in the form of reclamation of forest land, changes in land use patterns, coastal urbanizations etc are the lead factors for the changes in the environmental scenario of Sunderbans.

This book is the outcome of rigorous and continuous research work done by the author over about three decades on the open ecosystem and dynamic environment of the estuarine Sunderbans. The objective of this work is to identify the field and factors changing gradually upon this active delta over the years, decades and centuries. The deltaic Sunderbans yet not mature enough, has been changing in its natural course with time. Further, anthropogenic interferences disturb the environments and accelerate degradation of nature of this fragile ecosystem simultaneously. Roles played by almost all the agents including man and environment and their involvement are identified for the changing environmental scenario of the Sunderbans. The book is befitted for the researchers and students for the post graduate levels. The Sunderbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering parts of Bangladesh and the southern tip of Indian state of West Bengal, is a part of world's largest deltaic plain of fluvio-marine deposit formed by the Ganges and Brahmaputra at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal. It is the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world, conspicuous for its great size and biodiversity. With an enormous network of channels and creeks, tidal inundation twice daily, Sunderbans mangroves wetland is a dynamic and complex ecosystem, which undergoes continuous processes of erosion and accretion. Natural processes like changes in local hydrology, sediment motion under wind, wave and tidal action, beach dynamics, regional and global processes like sea level rise as well as the impact of human interference in the form of reclamation of forest land, changes in land use patterns, coastal urbanizations etc are the lead factors for the changes in the environmental scenario of Sunderbans.

This book explains several basic concepts of forests and forestry research like social distancing of trees, solitary trees, green infrastructure of trees including typical forest stands like pocket forests, forgotten forests, community forests, and social forestry from one forest stand to another scattered in the districts of West Bengal. In the field of forest floors, depleting status of the forests stimulates to find out different models of afforestation programme like tree-island and rescue forest strategy through plantation programme. Huge loss of tree canopy ravaged by the series of cyclonic storms particularly in the districts of South Bengal seems to be recovered by bioeconomic model with the implementation of social forestry schemes. Thoughts of such models incited the author to go through statistical analysis on different matters and parameters of the forest stands. Determination of physico-chemical parameters of the forest soil are carried on hand in hand with the identification of Alfisol profile exposures in the forest floors. For finding out the present status of forests, district-wise review is worked out. Though scattered in the format of the forest patches, forest stands in the Jungle Mahal are remarkably interesting for any surveyor or tree-lover. Because of the reasons, surveys in the specific forest lands like Joypur and Beliatore of Bankura district and Garh Jangal and Aduria Forests under Bardhaman Forest Division are given special impetus for statistical measures, soil properties analysis, and identification of vegetation pattern. All these salient features inspire the author to take an attempt disseminating information and related characteristics of the forests and forestry of West Bengal. Researchers and students will get sufficient material from this book to enrich their knowledge on the forest environment and the author believes that this book will act as the pioneer work for the flourishment and amelioration of the forestry of West Bengal.