AI Insight
Researchers visiting the Sundarbans mangrove forest in May 2026 observed significant ecological degradation, with notable water depletion being the most striking initial feature rather than tree loss. The Sundarbans, located in the delta region where the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers converge in the Bay of Bengal, represents the world's largest mangrove forest system and is experiencing collapse that may indicate broader environmental trends.
Why it matters
This ecological collapse serves as an early warning system for similar coastal ecosystems worldwide. Mangrove forests provide critical protection against storms, support biodiversity, and sustain millions of people's livelihoods in deltaic regions.
Understand the Science
The first thing that struck us wasn’t the missing trees, but the missing water. In May 2026, we visited the Sundarbans, a mangrove forest in the delta where the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers meet in the Bay of Bengal.
Source: Ecological collapse in the world's largest mangrove forest is a preview of what's to come