Mangroves Case Study - Bangladesh, Sundabarns

Question 1

What coastal landform does the sundabarns run through?

Answer 1

The world’s longest delta

Question 2

How long is the worlds longest delta?

Answer 2

Extends over 10,000km squared

Question 3

What 2 countries does the delta span across?

Answer 3

Southern Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal, India.

Question 4

How is the delta formed?

Answer 4

Through the sediment deposited by three of the world’s great rivers.

Question 5

What are the names of the three great rivers?

Answer 5

The Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna

Question 6

What is the primary natural process that shapes the mangroves?

Answer 6

Tidal Action

Question 7

What happens with the non-cohesive sediments (e.g sand) after being washed out of deltas onto the banks?

Answer 7

Strong south-westerly monsoon winds blow them into large ranges of sand dunes

Question 8

What does the protection of the sand dunes do?

Answer 8

Helps deposit finer silts that are washed into the bay be deposited, where wave action adds and shapes further deposits of sand to form new islands.

Question 9

What opportunities are given to the residents of the sundarbans?

Answer 9

• Fishing and Agriculture: Can either sell the grown food and fish or use it as a free food supply
• Honey Collection: Many men make a loving off of collecting honey to sell off

Question 10

What are the natural risks for the residents of the sundarbans?

Answer 10

• Coastal flooding
• Cyclones
• High levels of salinity in the soil
• Instability of the islands
• Accessibility and remoteness
• Human-eating tigers

Question 11

What are the human-induced risks for the residents of the sundarbans?

Answer 11

• Over-exploitation of coastal resources from vulnerable habitats
• Conservation of wetlands to intensive agriculture and settlements
• Destructive fishing techniques
• Lack of awareness of the environmental and economic importance of the region
• Resource-use conflicts
• Lack of awareness of coastal issues by decision makers