69
Sundarbans. The chapter argues that the IPLCs have been practising several unique
production methods based upon their TK which can significantly contribute to the
sustainable management and conservation of natural resources through symbiotic
human–nature relationships. It reveals, as a whole, that the well-being of SEPLS
essentially depends on human sociality constructed by norms, values and other formal and informal institutions.
The next section presents a brief profile of the Sundarbans by identifying this
mangrove ecosystem as a perfect case of SEPLS. The third section provides a conceptual framework that helps identify the major drivers of biodiversity resource degradation of the Sundarbans as well as examine the alternative means and measures
for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of those resources. In the analyses
parts of sections four and five, the empirical evidences have been discussed by juxtaposing the existing policy and institutional set up into the developed conceptual
framework to reveal the major drivers of resource degradation and show alternative
options which can be applied as viable means to manage the resources in a sustainable way. The penultimate section discusses the current resilience capacity of the
Sundarbans based on the major findings of the study. The final section ends with
concluding remarks.
5.2 A Brief Profile of the Sundarbans: A Socio-Ecological
Production Landscape and Seascape (SEPLS)
This chapter uses three elements, here, in the form of structure, benefits and changes
(Ichikawa, 2013) to present the Sundarbans as a perfect case of SEPLS.
5.2.1 Structure: Dynamic Mosaics of Habitats and Land Uses
The Sundarbans is located at the great delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and
Meghna (GBM) rivers at the edge of Bay of Bengal and is the largest contiguous
single-tract mangrove ecosystem in the world (Fig. 5.1). This mangrove ecosystem
lies within both India (the State of West Bengal) and Bangladesh. The Bangladesh
part is larger compared to the portion in India, with an area of 6071 km
2
(62% of the
total area), which constitutes 39.5% of the total forest area of Bangladesh (Roy and
Alam 2012). Of this Bangladesh part, 70% is land area and the rest (30%) is water
(Kabir and Hossain 2008). The wetlands of the Sundarbans consist of about 200
islands separated by about 400 interconnected tidal rivers, creeks and canals
(Rahman et al. 2010). The Sundarbans was recognised as a Natural World Heritage
Site in 1997 by UNESCO and as a Ramsar Site of international importance in 1992
(IUCN Bangladesh 2014).
5 Traditional Knowledge, Institutions and Human Sociality in Sustainable Use…
Sundarbans. The chapter argues that the IPLCs have been practising several unique
production methods based upon their TK which can significantly contribute to the
sustainable management and conservation of natural resources through symbiotic
human–nature relationships. It reveals, as a whole, that the well-being of SEPLS
essentially depends on human sociality constructed by norms, values and other formal and informal institutions.
The next section presents a brief profile of the Sundarbans by identifying this
mangrove ecosystem as a perfect case of SEPLS. The third section provides a conceptual framework that helps identify the major drivers of biodiversity resource degradation of the Sundarbans as well as examine the alternative means and measures
for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of those resources. In the analyses
parts of sections four and five, the empirical evidences have been discussed by juxtaposing the existing policy and institutional set up into the developed conceptual
framework to reveal the major drivers of resource degradation and show alternative
options which can be applied as viable means to manage the resources in a sustainable way. The penultimate section discusses the current resilience capacity of the
Sundarbans based on the major findings of the study. The final section ends with
concluding remarks.
5.2 A Brief Profile of the Sundarbans: A Socio-Ecological
Production Landscape and Seascape (SEPLS)
This chapter uses three elements, here, in the form of structure, benefits and changes
(Ichikawa, 2013) to present the Sundarbans as a perfect case of SEPLS.
5.2.1 Structure: Dynamic Mosaics of Habitats and Land Uses
The Sundarbans is located at the great delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and
Meghna (GBM) rivers at the edge of Bay of Bengal and is the largest contiguous
single-tract mangrove ecosystem in the world (Fig. 5.1). This mangrove ecosystem
lies within both India (the State of West Bengal) and Bangladesh. The Bangladesh
part is larger compared to the portion in India, with an area of 6071 km
2
(62% of the
total area), which constitutes 39.5% of the total forest area of Bangladesh (Roy and
Alam 2012). Of this Bangladesh part, 70% is land area and the rest (30%) is water
(Kabir and Hossain 2008). The wetlands of the Sundarbans consist of about 200
islands separated by about 400 interconnected tidal rivers, creeks and canals
(Rahman et al. 2010). The Sundarbans was recognised as a Natural World Heritage
Site in 1997 by UNESCO and as a Ramsar Site of international importance in 1992
(IUCN Bangladesh 2014).
5 Traditional Knowledge, Institutions and Human Sociality in Sustainable Use…