Dhaka: Over the past two decades, the biodiversity of Saint Martin’s Island (SMI) has experienced a marked decline as the developed land on the coral island nearly doubled between 2005 and 2023, according to a government report.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the draft “Master Plan of Saint Martin’s Island” reveals that developed land on SMI nearly doubled from 45.26 hectares to 86.13 hectares during this period. This increase has led to significant declines in agricultural and vegetated areas, attributed primarily to unregulated tourism and construction activities. The master plan aims to transform Saint Martin’s Island into a leading tourist destination while enhancing the quality of life for its residents and protecting its natural resources through coordinated efforts across multiple sectors.
Tourism is a major draw for Saint Martin’s Island, particularly during the peak season from September to April, with daily visitor numbers ranging between 3,000 and 7,000. However, the island’s limited area of 590 hectares is inadequate to support such high tourist numbers sustainably. This excessive influx has surpassed the island’s carrying capacity, leading to development that exceeds sustainable thresholds.
The environmental challenges associated with this development include increased waste and sewage production, inadequate drainage systems, unregulated growth of resorts and restaurants, habitat degradation, coral extraction, persistent poverty, limited alternative employment opportunities, unplanned infrastructure, and constraints in energy and eco-friendly transportation facilities. These issues have collectively placed significant pressure on local ecosystems and the socio-economic stability of the resident community.
Saint Martin’s Island is renowned for its ecological diversity, featuring several coral species unique to this region of Bangladesh. The island supports a wide array of invertebrates, algae, and coral communities, serving as a crucial nesting area for endangered marine turtles and an important wintering habitat for migratory birds. Despite this, the island’s biodiversity has experienced a marked decline over the past two decades.
Official data indicates that the island hosts 269 plant species across various habitats, including mangroves, bush lands, homesteads, and dunes. These areas are ecologically sensitive and play a vital role in maintaining coastal biodiversity. The wildlife population includes 194 species, encompassing significant avian, mammalian, reptilian, and marine groups, including endangered marine turtles.
The island is home to approximately 66 coral species, both hard and soft varieties, making it a unique hotspot for coral diversity in Bangladesh. Seaweed is abundant and significantly contributes to ecosystem energy dynamics. The fisheries sector supports over 475 fish species and a wide range of invertebrates, underpinning local livelihoods.
The draft master plan, developed to regulate unplanned tourism, protect the island’s fragile environment, and ensure sustainable management, is available for public access on the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s website (www.moefcc.gov.bd). All relevant ministries, departments, agencies, stakeholders, and the general public are invited to submit their written feedback on the draft plan by December 20 to the provided email address.