Coasts - Sundarbans Flashcards
Where are the Sundarbans located?
India and Bangladesh
What forests do the Sundarbans mainly consist of?
Mangrove forests
What are mangroves?
Trees that grow in coastal saline water, in the tropics and subtropics.
What do mangroves act as an obstacle to?
- Wind and waves (storms)
- Tsunamis
- Erosion
How do mangroves prevent erosion?
By trapping sediment and stabilising shorelines with their long and dense root systems.
Why are mangroves ecologically important?
They provide a nesting site for birds and act as habitats for reptile, amphibian and mammal species. They also provide habitats for fish, crabs, shrimps because it protects them from predators.
What are the main rivers which flow into the Bay of Bengal through the Sundarbans?
- River Ganges
- River Brahmaputra
- River Meghna
Where is the source of the rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna?
Himalayas
What is the population of the Sundarbans?
4.5 million
What percentage of the Sundarbans population live below the poverty line?
42%
What is the average population density of the Sundarbans?
925 people/sq km
What coastal processes at the Sundarbans act as risks?
- Tidal action
- Storms
- Monsoon winds
- Instability of islands (chars) around channels (khals).
- Sea level rising
What are the islands of the Sundarbans known as?
Chars
What are the channels of the Sundarbans known as?
Khals
What is the percentage rise in frequency of storms in the Sundarbans?
26%
How many square kilometres of land was lost in the Sundarbans from 2000 to 2009?
65
What is the nature of Sundarbans infrastructure?
Rural and remote:
- 6% without electricity
- Houses are made of fragile material.
What animal is a major threat to people living in the Sundarbans?
Bengal tigers
What percentage of people in the Sundarbans have a primary school education?
55%
What percentage of people in the Sundarbans have no formal education?
28%
What percentage of people in the Sundarbans have a degree?
0.5%
What is one of the main fishing industries in the Sundarbans?
Shrimp farming
What are the disadvantages of shrimp farming in the Sundarbans?
- Introduces invasive species
- Pollutes the local environment
- Dominated by large Western companies which don’t benefit the local population.
What direction is the Sundarbans delta migrating and why?
Eastwards (due to southwesterly monsoon winds)
How is the Bangladeshi and Indian government attempting to mitigate the challenges the Sundarbans is facing?
- Investment in roads, communications, schools, hospitals…
- Cyclone shelters
- Solar panels
- Ecotourism
- Growing salt tolerant rice
- NGO involvement
When was Cyclone Aila?
2009
How many immediate deaths were caused by Cyclone Aila?
190
How many people were affected by Cyclone Aila?
4 million
How many homes were damaged by Cyclone Aila?
920,000
What was the total economic loss caused by Cyclone Aila?
$1.7 billion
What is the current deforestation rate of mangroves in the Sundarbans per year?
2%/year
How has human activity jeopardised biodiversity in the Sundarbans?
- Climate change
- Deforestation
- Oil spills
How did the 2014 oil spill in the Sundarbans impact the local environment?
- Dolphin populations decreased due to oil reducing levels of oxygen in the water.
- Vegetation damaged so deer populations decreased.
- Tiger populations decreased due to lack of prey (deer).
How many people on average are killed by tiger attacks in the Sundarbans?
22
Why are high tiger attacks in the Sundarbans abnormal?
Humans are not a primary food source for tigers.
What are the opportunities for living in the Sundarbans?
- Flat, fertile land
- Tourism (Bengal tigers, Ganges dolphins)
- Mangroves provide timber for construction, firewood
- Power plants can use water or solar panels
- Mangroves protect against storms and erosion
- Channels allow for shipping
- Rich ecosystems provide shrimp, crab, honey, fish, palm leaves etc…
