Environment and Wildlife

Hatiya lies in one of the world’s most active delta environments. Meghna sediment creates new chars while currents and waves remove land elsewhere. Research covering 1973–2021 found that parts of the northern shoreline retreated roughly 12 kilometres, with reported erosion rates of about 100–550 metres a year. These are long-term estimates, not a forecast for every village or year.

Around Nijhum Dwip, Forest Department afforestation transformed young chars into salt-tolerant coastal woodland, especially keora forest. This mosaic of mangrove, mudflat, canal, grassland and shallow water supports spotted deer, resident and migratory waterbirds, fish, crustaceans and other estuarine life. It is a planted coastal mangrove system, distinct from the Sundarbans.

Nijhum Dwip National Park protects terrestrial and intertidal habitats. Bangladesh also declared a 3,188-square-kilometre marine protected area around Nijhum Dwip in 2019. Protected status does not guarantee a wildlife sighting: deer and birds move with tide, season, disturbance and food.

Mangroves reduce wind and wave energy and help stabilize new land, while cyclones, storm surge, salinity, erosion and changing channels threaten communities. Visitors can help by using established routes and local guides, keeping distance from animals and avoiding single-use plastic.