sundarbans
- Created by: vick.m
- Created on: 17-05-19 13:20
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- The Sundarbans, Bangladesh
- Background
- coastal zone occupying the world's largest delta.
- SW Bangladesh and East India on the Delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers
- large parts are protected as part of a national park or forest reserve. part of the world's largest mangrove forest.
- flat and low-lying lands intersected by thousands of small channels containing small and silty islands.
- home to many rare species, including Royal Bengal tigers
- Opportunities
- home to 4 million people
- natural products
- flat and fertile land is ideal for farming (esp rice)
- mangrove forests provide timber for construction and firewood
- rich ecosystems of mangrove forests provide fish, crabs, honey and nipa palm leaves for roofing and basket making
- services
- natural defence against flooding. low lying lands of Bangladesh.
- barrier against rough seas and excess water from a monsoon can infiltrate. = farming is easier
- development and prosperity
- tourism. mangroves and wildlife
- power plant has been proposed north of the national park. energy for the region
- since 2011, cargo ships transporting goods such as oil and food inland have been allowed to use the waterways. channels have been dredged to make passage easier.
- Risks
- relatively poor region. 1 in 5 households have access to mains electricity. communication is difficult so many residents don't receive flood warnings
- flooding --> salinisation of soil. farming is difficult
- access is difficult. few roads and are por quality. harder for residents to receive goods, healthcare and services
- low-lying land at risk of sea-level rise due to climate change
- home to dangerous animals that attack humans such as tigers, sharks and crocodiles
- lack of employment opportunities
- growing population has led to a need for more fuel and land so many mangrove forests are being removed. increases likelihood of flooding and coastal erosion
- lack of freshwater for drinking and irrigation. freshwater is diverted from the rivers for irrigation of agricultural land further upstream
- Overcoming the risks
- resilience
- mains electricity extended to more areas and subsidised solar panels are being made available in remote villages. Improved flood warning awareness. employment opportunities
- Public Health Engineering Department is increasing access to clean water and sanitation which will improve quality of life and health
- efforts to decrease poverty and increase food security. farming subsidies to increase food production and provide jobs. risk that some areas may be farmed too intensively.
- adaptation
- salt resistant varieties of rice are being tried out. cope with flooding and sea level rise. could reduce biodiversity and increase vulnerability to pests and diseases. non-intensive farming practices
- tourism. lodges have been built and tour operators run boat trips in the rivers. could potentially cause environmental damage. eco-tourism
- houses built on stilts. infrastructure such as roads cannot be protected as easily
- mitigation
- 3500km of embankments to prevent flooding but are gradually being eroded and 800km are vulnerable to being breached.
- coastal management projects to protect existing mangrove forests and replant removed areas. illegal forest clearance. unclear whether mangrove forests will withstand sea level rise
- mitigate impacts of extreme events such as cyclones. government and NGOs have provided cyclone shelters and early warning systems. however, many people do not have transport
- resilience
- Coastal processes
- Dense well-connected, network of interconnecting river channels that flow over clay and silt deposits.
- sediment store is in dynamic equilibrium. material is deposited by rivers allowing mangrove forest growth and is eroded by the sea
- larger channels straight and up to 2km wide. N to S
- drainage system of interconnecting smaller channels (khals). drain the land with each powerful ebb tide.
- sediments washed away to banks or to the river mouth where the strong southern-westerly monsoon winds blow them into sand dunes
- finer sediments washed into bay and with wave action, new islands form. vegetation colonises
- sediments washed away to banks or to the river mouth where the strong southern-westerly monsoon winds blow them into sand dunes
- Background
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