The Ravaging Impact of Erosion: Kuakata’s Struggle to Preserve its Tree Cover

Erosion along Kuakata Beach has resulted in the annual loss of about 75,000 trees, including the vital coconut palms, tamarisks, and other tree varieties. The transformation is stark from the once-lush landscape, where these resilient trees used to sway gracefully. Designated a government forest reserve since 2005, the National Park now stands as a testament to the unforgiving impact of erosion.

Over the past 13 years, close to 2,000 hectares of forest land along the 18-km stretch of the beach have succumbed to erosion. The picturesque coconut orchards have vanished, leaving only a fraction of tamarisk and palm trees struggling to survive within the reserves.

Erosion, a dire concern in this Bay region, poses heightened risks to local communities. Despite efforts by the Patuakhali forest department to bolster tourist appeal—such as establishing a 10,000-hectare tamarisk garden along the shoreline in 2007–08 and converting 2,166 acres of fresh land into reserves since 2010—the relentless force of erosion continues to devastate the coastline.

Although attempts have been made to counter the loss—allocating 60 hectares to tamarisk gardens in 2019, planting diverse species across an additional 85 hectares the following year, and introducing acacia trees on 25 hectares in the Gangamati area—erosion continues to claim at least 50 hectares of forest reserves annually. Over the past five years alone, these disasters have uprooted nearly 75,000 trees, especially the resilient coconut palms.

The once-expansive 18-km beach has drastically diminished due to ongoing erosion, making tourist walks during high tides challenging. Immediate intervention is crucial to prevent the disappearance of both the beach and the forest, as stressed by locals.

Prompt action is imperative. Asaduzzaman Miraj emphasizes deploying geo bags and planting more trees to fortify the shoreline naturally. However, the current scenario paints a bleak picture—uprooted coconut palms and Kewra plants scatter across a two-kilometer stretch between the beach and the reserves, impeding tourist access.

The dwindling mangrove tree population, once abundant, faces a dire fate due to accumulated saltwater from tidal surges. Illegal encroachments, brick kiln constructions, unregulated soil excavation for embankments, and fish enclosures compound the challenges faced by these reserves.

The erosion threat extends across vast forest tracts in several areas like Kuakata zero-point, Kawar Char, Gangamoti, Jatiya Udyan, Lembur Char, and Khajura. Nonetheless, efforts for regeneration and planting initiatives are mirroring the number of trees lost each year.

In a bid to safeguard the reserves, the forest department has initiated the Biodiversity Conservation and Eco-tourism Development project in collaboration with the Water Development Board and Jica—a significant step toward preserving the diminishing green cover along this vulnerable coastline.