The forest department has begun work to impose a three-month moratorium on tourism in the Sunderbans, from June till August, to facilitate the breeding season.
Officials of the east Sunderban division have made a proposal to bring a directive from the relevant forest department.
Forest official of east Sunderban division, Md Mahmudul Hasan, said: “if this proposal is approved then the directive may be implemented from next year.”
However, Khulna area forest conservator, Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury said: “before a temporary tourism suspension is enforced, there will be discussions at several levels and then, necessary steps may be taken after talks with the ministry.
The initiative has been taken to facilitate the undisturbed breeding of Royal Bengal tigers, deer and around 375 other species of the forest, said Mahmudul Hassan.
The biodiversity in the Sunderbans faces jeopardy due to climate change and other man-made reasons; already, two types of deer, two varieties of rhinoceros, one type of sweet water crocodile and one type of wild boar have become extinct.
We will talk to Sunderban specialists, environmentalists and other organisations; later, recommendations will be sent to the ministry and steps will be taken as per their decision, said Amir Hossain Chowdhury.