Khulna, Jan. 26 -- Water and climate expert Dr Ainun Nishat has warned that salinity levels in Khulna city's water could rise to near-ocean levels within the next 50 years, posing serious threats to the biodiversity of the Sundarbans and agricultural production in Bangladesh's southwestern region.

"If salinity continues to increase, the number of Sundari trees in the Sundarbans will decline, while Goran trees will become more dominant," he said while speaking at a session of the three-day Third Coastal Water Conference.

The conference, titled 'Water and Ecosystem Protection for Sustainable Development,' was held at the city's CSS Ava Centre.

Dr Nishat warned that rising salinity would cause major changes in biodiversity, including the ...