sundarbans

Question 1

where is it

Answer 1

the sundarbans region is in southwest Bangladesh and east India, on the delta of the Ganges

Question 2

is it protected

Answer 2

large parts of the region are protected as a national park or forest reserve. it is part of the largest mangrove forest in the world

Question 3

what is the land like

Answer 3

very flat and low-lying. intersected by thousands of channels, many containing small sandy islands

Question 4

what is the wildlife like

Answer 4

home to many rare species of plants and animals eg royal bengal tigers irawadi dolphins

Question 5

what opportunities does it bring

Answer 5

-flat fertile land ideal for growing crops, particularly rice
-rich ecosystem provides local population with fish, crabs, honey
-mangroves provide timber
-mangroves provide natural defence against flooding
-opportunities for tourism

Question 6

what are the risks

Answer 6

-lack of freshwater-drinking and irrigation
-magnroves being removed for more fuel and agricultural land increases risk of flooding, can lead to salination of soil
- home to dangerous animals
-lack of employment and income opportunities
-relatively poor region, 1/5 households have access to electricity, hard for communication-flood warnings
-difficult to access-few roads, poor quality

Question 7

attempts to overcome these risks

Answer 7

-public health engineering department is increasing access to clean water and sanitation
-better roads bridges being built
-mains electricity is being extended to more area, subsidised solar panels
-3500km of embankments were built to prevent flooding however 800km are vulnerable to being breached
-salt resilient varieties of rice are being grown
-building houses on stilts
-non invasive ecotourism