sundabans case study

Question 1

where is sundarbans

Answer 1

east india and west of bangladesh

mangrove forest and swamp ecosystem

delta formed by 3 major rivers - ganges/brahmaputra/meghan all flow from Himalayas

Question 2

mangrove ecosytem

Answer 2

roots trap sediment so water murkey
mangrove canopy filters sunlight

roots under water filter salts out of water
wher out of water can take in oxygen through pores
need the changing water levels

roots provide shelter for small fish

mangroves reduce erosion and protect shorline from tropical revolving storms (cyclone)

face threat of human development

Question 3

sundarbans ecological significance

Answer 3

4.3% of mangroves in sundarbans
largest in world
most populates - 4million
rich biodiversity
world heratige site
only coastal tiger habitat

Question 4

coastal processes in sundarban

Answer 4

strong tidal action creates large channels
erosion creates smaller channels called Khals which drain land after each ebb flow

2000-2009 65km2 land lost

sediment eroded from himalays and transported
less ice himalayas due to climate change
less water less sediment
area shrinking

sea level rising:
90s- 2000 3.14mm/yr
2000 - 2009 17.8mm/yr

monsoon winds SW blow uncosolidated particles to form new islands called Chars at river mouth

26% rise in freq of intense storms

Question 5

socio economic opps

Answer 5

range natural produces
provide services
development

Question 6

what does range of natural produces provide

Answer 6

land flat and fertile due to alluvium from rivers
good rice crops - sell - profit - living
[resiliance]

provides food

nipa palm leaves for roofs and fence
timber for construction and firewood
[resiliance]

build/feed fam

Question 7

what services does mangroves provide to people

Answer 7

natural flood defence
easier live and grow crops

protect from erosion as roots bind soil

provides safety

Question 8

what development does mangrove offer bangladesh

Answer 8

tourism - visitors attracted (not infrastructure for the vol)
[adaption - use environ to get money for adaption]

2011 cargo ships allowed use waterways to ship oil and food inland
- some channels dredged - erosion + pollution

2021 coal fired power plant to N of national park provide energy - develop economically - pollution

Question 9

risks and challenges of development

Answer 9

lack drink and irrigation water
mangroves removed
low lying land at risk
difficult access
pollution

Question 10

drinking water risk

Answer 10

fresh water is diverted from rivers for irrigation of agricultural land further upstream

Less rain so needing to irrigate land more so less water to Sundarbans so less water to drink

Question 11

growing population risk

Answer 11

more fuel and agricultural land needed
mangroves removed
risk erosion
risk flood
- inc salinisation soil making harder grow crops

risk attacked by dangerous animals

Question 12

poverty fact

Answer 12

42% pop below poverty line due to lack employment and income opportunities

Question 13

electricity fact

Answer 13

1/5 houses have mains electricity
communication hard
dont get flood warnings

impacts development and QofL

Question 14

how does access impact development

Answer 14

few roads and poor quality
hard recieve food/heathcare/education

limits development

Question 15

aquaculture impact

Answer 15

large areas cleared for shrimp farming
invasive species
erosion estuary

does provide jobs
[adaption and resiliance]

Question 16

coal fires power plat impact

Answer 16

by rashur river at rampal
destroyed northern section sundarbans
pollution
habitat loss
less carbon

Question 17

southern star severn impact

Answer 17

2014
oil spill
killed marine life
mangrove seeds that drop seeds failed to germinte so reduce food futher for animals

Question 18

risk v opp

Answer 18

risk outweight opps

Question 19

what is resiliance

Answer 19

ability cope with challenges

Question 20

mitigation meaning

Answer 20

reduce severity of problem

Indian NGO nature environment wildlife society reforested mangroves that had been depletes
- 2015 planted 50,000 saplings

Question 21

adaption meaning + examples

Answer 21

adjust behaviour to fit environment to reduce risk and increase benefits

cyclone aila 2009 - 140 dead, 4mill impacted
- 1000 cyclone shelters built under national cyclone risk mitigation programme
- gov set 8000Rs aside for relief

education on natural disasters
salt tolerant rice varieties planted
install water tanks for areas risk salinisation

Question 22

bangladesh ICZM

Answer 22

2005
protect from natural hazards
management freshwater
protection nat enviroment and regenration

Question 23

government agreements

Answer 23

1972 bangladesh and india set up joint rivers commission to manage 54 rivers