Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh will visit the Sunderbans on January 12 to look into its protection and long-term ecological sustainability. “It is a unique challenge as far as the Sunderbans are concerned because of their vulnerability to climate change and Alia-like hurricanes. I will visit there on January 12 to see what we can do to combat the situation,” Ramesh said on the sidelines of a function on Monday.

The visit is in response to a constant reminder from the West Bengal government to the Centre on increased cyclonic activities and tidal amplitude, besides accelerated erosion leading to disappearance of certain islands like Ghoramara, which threatens the existence of Sunderbans.

Ramesh said a national institute for mangrove research was being established in the Sunderban area to provide a scientific approach in preserving the country’s mangroves.

He also said the vulnerability of sea-facing inhabited islands in the mangrove needed to be evaluated, besides construction of bridges to provide for evacuation in case of a sea-rise situation or Alia-like hurricanes in the future.

Sunderbans are home to 43 lakh people, who inhabit 52 non-forest islands.