Sundarbans Flashcards
Locational context
The Sundarbans region is in South West Bangladesh and east India.
Large parts of the region are protected as a National Park or forest reserve. It is part of the largest mangrove in the world.
The land is very flat and low-lying. It is intersected by thousands of channels, many containing small sandy or silty islands.
The Sundarbans are home to many rare species of plants and animals, including orchids and Royal Bengal tigers.
What is the Sundarbans case study about?
The case study identifies how humans overcome risk of living on coastal environments and how it presents risks and opportunities for human occupation and development and evaluates human responses of resilience, mitigation and adaptation.
How does the Sundarbans region bring opportunities?
1) The Sundarbans region is home to nearly 4 million people, the area provides a range of natural products that can be used by the people who occupy the area or sold to bring economic benefits to the region:
- The flat, fertile land of the river deltas is ideal for growing crops, particularly rice.
- The rich ecosystem of the mangrove forest provides the local population with fish, crabs, honey, and palm leaves used for roofing and basket making.
- The mangrove forests provide timber for construction, firewood, and furniture.
2) The Sundarbans also provide services for people who live there:
- The mangrove forest provides a natural defense against flooding- it acts as a barrier against rough seas and absorbs excess water in the rainy seasons. This makes it easier to live and grow crops.
- The mangroves also protect the area against coastal erosion- the roots bind their soil together.
3) There are also opportunities for development, to increase the wealth of Bangladesh as a whole:
- There are opportunities for tourism- visitors are attracted by the mangroves and wildlife.
- Cargo ships transporting goods such as oil and food inland have been allowed to use the waterways.
- A power plant has been proposed just north of the national park, providing energy for people in the region.
How does the location of Sundarbans create risks for occupation and development?
1) There is a lack of fresh water for drinking and irrigation in much of the area. Freshwater is found further upstream.
2) The growing population has led to the need for more fuel and more agricultural land, so the mangrove forests are removed. This increases the risk of flooding and coastal erosion.
3) Flooding can lead to salinization ( increased saltiness) of soil, making it hard to grow crops.
4) The Sundarbans are home to a number of dangerous animals that attack humans including sharks, crocodiles, and tigers.
5) there is a lack of employment and income opportunities
6) The low-lying land is at risk from rising sea levels due to global warming
7) Poor access to electricity, difficulty communicating, no flood warnings.
8) Minimla roads, make it harder for residents to receive goods, healthcare, and education.
How do people respond to risks through resilience?
Resilience means being able to cope with the challenges the environment presents.
there are attempts to increase the population’s resilience, for example:
> The public health engineering department is increasing access to clean water and sanitation. This will improve health and quality of life.
> Better roads and bridges are being built in the region, improving access for residents and visitors. However, this can lead to deforestation and environmental damage.
> Solar panels being installed, making it easier for flood system warnings.
> Some NGOs are offering training in sustainable methods of fishing and farming, to help prevent environmental damage from over-exploitation or poor practices.
How do people respond to risks through mitigation?
Mitigation means reducing the severity of hazards or other problems. For example:
- 3500km of embankments were built to prevent flooding. However, the embankments are gradually being eroded, and around 800km are vulnerable to being breached during storms and tsunamis.
- Coastal management projects aim to protect existing mangrove forests and replant areas that had been removed, to protect against flooding and erosion.
- There are attempts to mitigate the impacts of extreme events, e.g. cyclones. For example, the government and NGOs have provided funding for cyclone shelters and early warning systems, which should help people shelter or evacuate.
However, people may not have transport available to enable them to evacuate quickly.
How do people respond to risks through adaption?
Adaption means adjusting behavior to fit the environment. People in Sundarbans will need to adapt in order to reduce risks and increase benefits:
- In some areas, salt-resistant varieties of rice are being grown- this could help residents cope with flooding and sea level rise.
- Projects are underway to increase tourism to the area, providing jobs and income. For example, lodges have been built and tour operators run boat trips on the rivers. However if not properly managed, tourism can cause environmental damage.
- people can adapt to sea level rise or flooding, e.g. by building houses on stilts. However, infrastructure such as roads cannot be protected as easily.
