In response to environmentalists' protests, Shell Bangladesh claims it will not conduct oil activity in sensitive areas of the Sundarbans. Please send a polite letter to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Send copies to the Minister of Environment and Forests, and to Shell Bangladesh. Damage to the Sundarbans would violate many international accords ratified by Bangladesh, including the Convention on Biodiversity, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, and the declaration of Sundarbans as a World Heritage Site. Mangrove forests literally live in two worlds at once, acting as the interface between land and sea.
Mangrove forests are vital for healthy coastal ecosystems.
Fallen leaves and branches from the mangroves provide nutrients for the marine environment and support immense varieties of sea life in intricate food webs. They offer refuge and nursery grounds for juvenile fish, crabs, shrimps and mollusks. Mangroves help protect coastlines from erosion, storm damage, and wave action. They catch alluvial materials flowing toward the sea, providing sediment accretion that balances sediment loss. Vital coral reefs and sea grass beds are also protected from damaging siltation.