Saltwater intrusion threatens traditional medicine in Sundarbans
Rising sea levels are pushing saltwater into the Sundarbans mangrove forest, destroying the habitat of medicinal plants. Traditional healer Suranjan Raptan finds it increasingly difficult to source the plants he needs for treatments. The loss of these plants endangers local healthcare practices.
Suranjan Raptan, a 40-year-old practitioner, inherited his healing craft through an oral tradition spanning three generations. He traverses the muddy terrain without footwear to better sense the ground, using a blade to gather plant parts for remedies addressing ailments such as coughs and stomach discomfort.
The forest's density has noticeably thinned since Cyclone Aila struck in 2009. By the mid-2010s, sunlight reached previously shaded zones, coinciding with the scarcity of familiar herbs. The Sundari tree, namesake of the region, is now uncommon, and Raptan worries that a specific plant he seeks may have already vanished.
The decline of medicinal flora could undermine a low-cost healthcare safety net for rural communities near the Sundarbans. As healers struggle to source ingredients, residents may lose access to traditional treatments for common illnesses. This ecological shift may also disrupt the intergenerational transfer of indigenous knowledge, potentially pushing younger people toward modern medical systems or forcing them to relocate for care.