Wetlands and wildlife: The hidden wealth of Howrah district – GetBengal story
Howrah is located in South Bengal's Gangetic delta, which is made up of low-lying alluvial plains. The word "howrah" comes from the word "haor," which refers to a wetland region where mud and water once accumulated. The district, which is separated by the Ganga and Rupnarayan rivers, is home to a variety of ecosystems, including rivers, canals, wetlands, forests, and agricultural areas.
The term "environment" refers to the world of living and non-living components surrounding us—humans, animals, plants, soil, water, air, rocks, dust, bacteria, viruses, and countless other organisms. Since the dawn of civilization, humans have feared, revered, and loved nature. However, the strain on nature has increased with each step of human development, and biodiversity is currently facing a dire crisis.
The main goal of this event was to raise students' awareness of the value of protecting wildlife, biodiversity, and the environment
Only 1.5 to 1.7 million of the 13 to 15 million species of life that scientists believe exist on Earth have been identified or documented. West Bengal, especially the Howrah district, contributes significantly to the ecological wealth of India, which is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world.
The biodiversity of Howrah is under constant threat from rapid urbanization, wetland degradation, road expansion, loss of greenery, illegal hunting, and increasing human-wildlife conflict. Habitat destruction and food scarcity have worsened the situation for many species.
Conservation can never be achieved through individual efforts alone; it is a collective process where the inclusion of common people plays the most vital role. Keeping this in mind, in February of this year, Samrat Mondal organized an eight-team girls’ kabaddi tournament at Gazipur in Amta Block II, involving students from eight girls’ schools.
The main goal of this event was to raise students' awareness of the value of protecting wildlife, biodiversity, and the environment. Schools are the best place to spread these kinds of messages because students will be the future stewards of society. In order to stop the innumerable wild animals from dying in traffic accidents, awareness boards were put up alongside state highways.
West Bengal, especially the Howrah district, contributes significantly to the ecological wealth of India, which is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world.
These conservation activities were supported by the West Bengal Forest Department, the West Bengal Biodiversity Board, the University of Calcutta, and local administrative bodies.
This planet does not belong to humans alone. Humanity must learn to share the Earth with millions of other species, for the survival of civilization itself depends on ecological balance. Only through this shared responsibility can biodiversity and human life both thrive.
