Bangladesh Plans To Use Drones To Monitor Sundarbans

The Bangladesh Forest Department has been planning on monitoring the forest Sundarbans, the biggest mangrove forest in the world recognized by UNESCO as a world natural heritage. The plan is to use drones to monitor the crimes happening in the forest, including deer and tigers poaching.

Reduce crimes and monitor the forest

Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury (Deputy Chief Conservator of the Forest) has been interviewed on this He said that the main aim for these drones' deployment is to check on the crimes. These crimes, including catching fish despite the ban, illegal tree harvesting, and poaching of animals. He also added that drones would take on a significant role in monitoring the forest and prevent unlawful intrusion.

The Forest Department was also thinking about building a fence(net) around the Sundarbans to prevent the tigers from intruding into the localities.

According to the data of the Forest Department, fourteen tigers were killed by the locals after making an intrusion into their villages in the past two decades.

Drones will be useful

Rafiqul Islam Khokon (Sundarbans Academy's adviser ), commented that the usage of new technology such as drones could really save the magnificent forest. He said that it is possible to use drones to monitor the activities inside the forest.

He added if we could secure the sources of food and water for the tigers, they won't invade into the nearby villages. Plus, with the drones, we will know ahead if any tiger is about to enter the localities.

Habibun Nahar (Environment, Climate Change, and Forests - Deputy Minister) recently commented on the plan. He said that all measures will be done to increase the security in the coastal zone, including the forest Sundarbans, via modern technology.