The history of human habitation in the Sundarbans is challenging to trace due to limited records, most of which originate from British colonial accounts. However, archaeological finds such as Stone Age tools reveal that humans inhabited the region as early as 150,000–40,000 BC. The Sundarbans also find mention in ancient texts like the Mahabharata ( 300 BC–300 AD), where Yudhishthira and Bhima, two of the Pandava brothers, are said to have visited “Gangasagar,” the meeting point of the Ganges and the sea.

 

Prior to the 5th century BC, the Proto-Australoid people, known as “Veddoid” or “Kobil,” began settling in the upper parts of the delta. Later, certain historiographies claim that Aryans moved into the region. During Emperor Ashoka’s reign (273–232 BC), and through subsequent Hindu periods, the region witnessed agricultural and cultural development.

 

The Gupta period (320–415 AD) saw significant clearing of Sundarban forests for agriculture. Hiuen-Tsang, a Chinese scholar and traveler who visited India between 627 and 643 AD, described the area as a fertile, low-lying coastal plain abundant with crops.

 

Archaeological evidence indicates that before the rise of the Indo-Turkish sultans in Bengal during the early 13th century, the Sundarbans was inhabited by indigenous tribes, primarily engaged in fishing. Oral traditions and land revenue records suggest that by the Mughal period, large-scale deforestation and agricultural expansion had begun, reaching areas like South Jessore and northern Khulna by the mid-15th century.

 

The Mughal era (1575–1765) saw uninterrupted deforestation as virgin forests were converted to farmland. A significant change in the course of the Ganges River during this time caused it to merge with the Brahmaputra upstream. This shift increased salinity levels in areas like 24 Parganas, adversely affecting the region’s biodiversity. The era also experienced devastating cyclones, which further shaped the environment.

Under Mughal rule, the forests were largely neglected, treated as reserves for hunting rather than as a resource for development.By the end of the Mughal rule, settlers had extended agricultural activity to the northern edges of Kolkata, pushing the forest boundaries back significantly.

 

In the early 18th century, however, the population in the Sundarbans began to decline. This was largely attributed to the changing course of the Ganges and attacks by the Portuguese. From the late 18th century to the early 20th century, salt farming became a notable activity in the central and southern Sundarbans. Salt workers, known as “Malangis” and “Mahinders”, left behind traces of their industry, such as earthen pots and mounds that remain visible in some parts of the region.

 

The Sundarbans saw major changes during the British era, beginning with the Treaty of 1757, signed after the Battle of Plassey. Through this treaty, the lands of 24 Parganas were ceded to the British East India Company, which set up its headquarters in Kolkata at the edge of the Sundarbans. By 1764, the Surveyor General mapped the region, showing that its forests covered an uninterrupted area of 19,200 square kilometers. At the time, the region retained much of its ecological diversity.

 

From 1770–1773, the East India Company granted its first leases for land reclamation, encouraging the deforestation of large tracts for timber and cultivation. By 1783, this had evolved into an organized effort. Landowners offered leases to impoverished farming communities from Bengal and neighboring states, encouraging them to settle in the Sundarbans.

 

In 1828, the British government formally claimed ownership of the forests. By 1830, they began leasing out sections for reclamation, a practice that continued until 1875–76. The early 19th century marked a period of mass settlement in the region. From the beginning, settlers in the Sundarbans engaged in woodcutting, fishing, and honey collection as their primary occupations.

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The first effort to manage forests scientifically in India was made in 1862. Land clearing for agriculture was stopped, but deforestation continued. Forests were cut down at a faster rate, with wood being used for building ships and railway tracks. By 1873, around 5,100 km² of forests had been cleared, and the Sundarbans forest area was reduced to about 14,100 km².

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The Forest Act of 1855 led to some parts of the Sundarban being declared reserved forests in 1875–1876. From then on, the government controlled the use of forest resources. Activities like fishing and collecting natural resources required permits, and people had to pay fees to the Forest Department. Entry without a permit was banned, and this system is still in place today, with permits needed to access certain areas of the Sundarban.