Coasts 7 - Humans at the coast

Question 1

Where are the Sundarbans

Answer 1

Southwest of Bangladesh, on the Delta of the Ganges

Question 2

What is the land like

Answer 2

very flat and low-lying and intersected by 1000s of channels, many that contain snall sandy or silty islands

Question 3

What is the Sundarbans home to

Answer 3

Many rare species of plants and animals, inclusing orchids, white-bellied sea eagles, Royal Bengal tigers and Irawadi dolphins

Question 4

What is the system like in its natural state

Answer 4

Dynamic Equalibrium

Question 5

What happens to the material

Answer 5

It’s deposited by the rivers

Question 6

WHat does this allow for

Answer 6

allows for the growth of the mangrove forests

Question 7

What is the population of the Sundarbans

Answer 7

4 million people

Question 8

WHats good about the range of natural products the area provides

Answer 8

They can be used by people who occupy the area or sold and brings economic benefits

Question 9

What are these 3 economic benefits

Answer 9

1) Flat fertile land of the river detlas is ideal for growing crops
2) Rich ecosystem of the forest provides the local population with fish, honey and palm leaves used for roofing and basket making
3) The mangrove forests provide timber for construction, firewood and furniture

Question 10

What 2 services do the Sundarbans provide for people who live there

Answer 10

1) Provides a natural defence against flooding - acts as a barrier against rough seas and absorbs excess water in monsoon season. Makes it easier to live and grow crops
2) They protect areas against coastal erosion - their roots bind soil together

Question 11

What will the opportunities for development do?

Answer 11

Increase the wealth of Bangladesh

Question 12

Give an example of opportunity

Answer 12

Tourism - visitors are attracted to the wildlife and mangroves

Question 13

What has happened since 2011?

Answer 13

Cargo ships have been able to use the waterways

Question 14

What has been proposed for the north of the national park

Answer 14

A power plant - providing energy for the people of the region

Question 15

What 8 risks does the location and nature of the Sundarbans create?

Answer 15

1) lack of fresh wattle
2) Growing population means more fuel and agricultural land
3) Flooding leads to salinisation
4) Its home to dangerous animals that attack humans
5) Lack of employment opportunities
6) Low-lying land means its at risk of rising sea levels and global warming
7) Relatively poor region - meaning its hard to receive communication
8) Access is hard as their are few roads and the ones that do exist are poor quality

Question 16

What 3 ways can people respond to risks

Answer 16

Resilence, mitigation and adaptation

Question 17

What does resilience mean?

Answer 17

Being able to cope with the challenges the environment presents

Question 18

What 5 attempts have been put in place to increase peoples resilience

Answer 18

1) Public Health is increasing acsess to clean water and sanitation
2) Better roads and bridges are being built
3) Electricity is being extended to more areas and being made available in remote areas
4) Efforts to decrease poverty and increase food security
5) NGOs are offering training in sustainable methods to help prevent enviromental damage from over population or poor practice

Question 19

What does mitigation mean

Answer 19

Reducing the severity of hazards or other problems

Question 20

What are 3 examples of mitigation

Answer 20

1) 3500km of embankments were built to prevent flooding.
2) Coastal management projects aim to protect existing mangrove forests and replant areas that have been removed
3) Attempts to mitigate the impacts of extreme events, like cyclone shelters and early warning systems

Question 21

What is adaptation

Answer 21

Adjusting behaviour to fit the environment.

Question 22

How do people adapt

Answer 22

Adapt to the area to reduce risks and increase the benefits

Question 23

What are the 4 ways adaptation is used

Answer 23

1) Salt-resistant varieties of rice are being grown - this helps residents cope with flooding and sea level rise
2) Projects are underway to increase tourism to the area, providing jobs and income
3) People adapt to sea level rise or flooding
4) Sustainable adaptations help ensure that fragile environments remain undamaged for future generations