67
© The Author(s) 2020
O. Saito et al. (eds.), Managing Socio-ecological Production Landscapes and
Seascapes for Sustainable Communities in Asia, Science for Sustainable
Societies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1133-2_5
Chapter 5
Traditional Knowledge, Institutions
and Human Sociality in Sustainable Use
and Conservation of Biodiversity
of the Sundarbans of Bangladesh
Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Tanjila Afrin, and Mohammad Saeed Islam
Abstract This chapter attempts to (a) identify the drivers of biodiversity degradation
of the Sundarbans of Bangladesh, (b) present an alternative understanding on the
measures for sustainable utilisation and conservation of resources and (c) suggest
actions and policy alternatives to reverse the process of degradation and to move
towards transformative harmonious human–nature interactions. While it is documented that the size of the Sundarbans of Bangladesh reduced and several floral and
faunal species of the forest have been facing threat of extinction, the causes of continuous and unabated loss of the resources of this forest region have not been rigorously demonstrated. By challenging the mainstream approaches, the chapter
theoretically and empirically exhibits that the exclusion of indigenous peoples and
local communities (IPLCs) in the conservation and management process has contributed to the losses of biological diversity and suggests that the IPLCs have been practising several unique production methods based upon their traditional knowledge
which can significantly contribute to the sustainable management of resources
through symbiotic human–nature relationships. Following multiple evidence base
(MEB) approaches, it is found that human sociality-based conservation practice positively impacts on resilient indicators and helps achieve Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
Keywords Human sociality · Traditional knowledge · Conservation · Biodiversity
· The Sundarbans
R. A. M. Titumir (*)
Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Unnayan Onneshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh
e-mail: rt@du.ac.bd; rtitumir@unnayan.org
T. Afrin · M. S. Islam
Unnayan Onneshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Department of Development Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Bangladesh
University of Professionals, Dhaka, Bangladesh
e-mail: tanjila.afrin@bup.edu.bd; saeed.islam@bup.edu.bd
© The Author(s) 2020
O. Saito et al. (eds.), Managing Socio-ecological Production Landscapes and
Seascapes for Sustainable Communities in Asia, Science for Sustainable
Societies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1133-2_5
Chapter 5
Traditional Knowledge, Institutions
and Human Sociality in Sustainable Use
and Conservation of Biodiversity
of the Sundarbans of Bangladesh
Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Tanjila Afrin, and Mohammad Saeed Islam
Abstract This chapter attempts to (a) identify the drivers of biodiversity degradation
of the Sundarbans of Bangladesh, (b) present an alternative understanding on the
measures for sustainable utilisation and conservation of resources and (c) suggest
actions and policy alternatives to reverse the process of degradation and to move
towards transformative harmonious human–nature interactions. While it is documented that the size of the Sundarbans of Bangladesh reduced and several floral and
faunal species of the forest have been facing threat of extinction, the causes of continuous and unabated loss of the resources of this forest region have not been rigorously demonstrated. By challenging the mainstream approaches, the chapter
theoretically and empirically exhibits that the exclusion of indigenous peoples and
local communities (IPLCs) in the conservation and management process has contributed to the losses of biological diversity and suggests that the IPLCs have been practising several unique production methods based upon their traditional knowledge
which can significantly contribute to the sustainable management of resources
through symbiotic human–nature relationships. Following multiple evidence base
(MEB) approaches, it is found that human sociality-based conservation practice positively impacts on resilient indicators and helps achieve Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
Keywords Human sociality · Traditional knowledge · Conservation · Biodiversity
· The Sundarbans
R. A. M. Titumir (*)
Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Unnayan Onneshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh
e-mail: rt@du.ac.bd; rtitumir@unnayan.org
T. Afrin · M. S. Islam
Unnayan Onneshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Department of Development Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Bangladesh
University of Professionals, Dhaka, Bangladesh
e-mail: tanjila.afrin@bup.edu.bd; saeed.islam@bup.edu.bd