3.10 - Case study - The Sundarbans Flashcards
Where are the Sundarbans?
Bangladesh (mainly) and India
Define Monsoon
A seasonal reverse of wind direction heralding a change from a dry to wet season
More than …..% of the population live in an area impacted by a monsoon climate
60%
India receive …% of their rainfall in the Summer monsoon
90%
How are monsoons formed?
Land heats up quicker than water so heat rises over the land of India
An area of low pressure is formed
The direction of the prevailing winds changes so moist air goes over land
What is a river delta?
low, flat land, sometimes shaped like a triangle, where a river divides into several smaller rivers before flowing into the sea
List 5 coastal processes in the Sundarbans
Tidal action (main) Erosion Monsoon winds Increasing sea levels Instability of islands
Define sustainability
Meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future.
Why can mangroves live in the sea?
Roots can filter out the salts
Name 3 benefits of mangroves (not goods)
Roots are home to fish
Decrease erosion
Reduce sediment run off from land
Name 4 services the Sundarbans provide
Fuels
Protection (erosion)
Provision (climate control and breeding grounds)
Value
Name 4 goodscthe Sundarbans provide
Food
Textiles
Medicine
Construction material
Name the two types of opportunities into the Sundarbans
Goods and Services
Name 5 natural risks to the Sundarbans
Coastal flooding Cyclones Salt in soil Instability of islands Remote
Name 5 human risks to the Sundarbans
Over exploitation Destructive fishing techniques Lack of awareness of importance Resource use conflict Convert wetland to settlements and agriculture
Define resilience
Being able to cope with the challenges the environment presents
Define mitigation
Reducing the severity of hazards and other issues
Define adapttaion
Adjusting behaviour to fit the environment
List 4 challenges of the Sundarbans
Increased frequency and intensity of floods
Increase salinity levels of soil
Pesticide use affect water quality
Embankments encourage silt -> river level rises
3 ways people have adapted to the Sundarbans
Build houses of stilts
Sustainable - non-intensive farming techniques and ecotourism
Salt-tolerant rice (AO3 - reduce biodiversity and vulnerable to pests
3 ways people have mitigated to the Sundarbans
3500km of embankments built
Protect mangroves and replant in areas
Cyclone shelters
4 ways people have been resilient to the Sundarbans
Better roads and bridges
Increase food security by giving £
Increase access to clean water
Electricity in more areas and solar panels
What do USAID do to help? (4)
Monitor tiger population
Harvest crops efficiently
Sell excess crops
Raise fish
Describe the ICZM
Integrated coastal zone management
Coastal people peruse sustainable economic development
What does the ICZM do? (4)
Sundarbans
Improve rural livelihood
Manage fresh water resources
Develop tourism and fishing sector
Improve infrastructure and social provision
Define mangrove
Semi-marine tropical species of tree that grows in shallow water with roots above the surface.
Describe the key development - cyclone protection (2)
2000+ cycle shelters
Social centre when not in use
AO3 - Describe the key development - cyclone protection (1)
Not enough for scale needed
Describe the key development - coastal protection (2)
5000km of embankments
123 barrier dams
AO3 - Describe the key development - coastal protection (3)
Reduce flow of tidal
Increase sediment deposition
Increase water logging
Describe the key development - vegetation (2)
Mangroves absorb wave/cyclone energy
Plant vegetation along 900km of coastline
AO3 - Describe the key development - vegetation (2)
Inadequate knowledge of species and habitat
Hit and miss with survival
