Sundarbans Flashcards
How has sea level change/climate change impacted the Sundarbans?
- high levels of salination in the delta, unusable for farming
- greater flooding and increasing intensity of risks are damaging wildlife and mangroves
What is one way the government is helping the forest dependent people in the Sundarbans?
- issuing grants and encouraging other sources of income such as farming or shop-keeping or eco-tourism
Why is the Sundarbans important for people’s livelihoods?
- fishing provides income
- wood/natural materials used for housing
- collection of food
- medicines
How is the Sundarbans being protected?
- complete moratorium on timber, non-timer can only be removed with a permit from the ‘buffer-zone’
- limited use of resources from June-August (most breeding seasons)
Why does the Sundarbans need to be protected in order to manage flood and erosion risk?
- mangroves reduce wave and storm energy before it comes into contact with urban areas
- they also reduce the rate of erosion. They trap sediment, allowing lands to form, becoming more resistant to SLC
In what ways is the Sundarbans management an integrated sustainable approach?
Sundarban delta Vision 2050 - considers all stakeholders at all levels to create an effective and acheivable management plan
What are two economic opportunities in the Sundarbans?
- food such as fish
- resources such as wood
What is a natural threat to the Sundarbans
- cyclones and flooding
- high salinity
What is a human threat to the Sundarbans?
- over-exploitation of resources
- lack of awareness
How have Bangladesh adapted to the threats facing the Sundarbans?
- salt tolerant crops (rice)
- cyclone shelters and training
-USAID - training to be more resilient to climate change
What delta makes up the Sundarbans region?
Ganges, Padma and Brahmaputra and Meghna
What is the economic value of 1ha of mangrove forest?
$12,000
How long can salt-tolerant crops survive under water?
2 weeks
How long till the Sundarbans is underwater?
15-25 years
How many people live in the Sundarbans (across India and Bangladesh)?
6.8 million
