The world’s largest mangrove forest is in trouble.

A rapid rise in the sea level, salinity and overall climate change has led to migration in Sunderbans, which in turn, has changed the socio-economic condition of the area.

According to a World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF) report, more than 7,000 people have already been displaced in the last 30 years due to climate change.

70,000 more people are at a high risk of displacement. People are migrating to Mumbai, Surat, Chennai, Kolkata and neighbouring districts, where they stay for two to three months.

The rising sea level and increasing salinity have deprived the people living in core Sunderbans areas of their main sources of livelihood - agriculture and fishing.

In the aftermath of the Cyclone Aila in 2009, the village Sonargoan which was the worst hit, has faced severe migration with most of the families having migrated to Kolkata.

After Aila, we are yet to get back to the mainstream. Our fields are not yet fit for cultivation. So in order to survive, most of the male members have either migrated alone to other parts of the country or with the entire family. We have no other option. If we stay back we will die of starvation.
- Satinath, Resident of Sonargaon