71
(Bangladesh Forest Department [BFD], 2015 and The Guardian, 27 July 2015). It is
also home to thousands of spotted deer (Axis axis) and barking Deer (Muntiacus
muntjak).
These biotic along with other abiotic resources of the Sundarbans contribute
directly or indirectly to the economy both at local and national levels. Fig. 5.2 shows
how the resources of the Sundarbans have been utilised for different purposes, contributing both to the lives and livelihoods of local people and to the economy of the
country. The livelihood pattern in the Sundarbans area varies with seasons and supports an estimated 3.5 million people directly or indirectly (Sarker et al. 2016).
Wood and golpata collectors (Bawalis), fisherman (Jele), honey and wax collectors
(Mouals), shell collectors (Chunary) and crab collectors are among the major occupational groups of the adjacent forest region. The lives and livelihoods of the local
people are mainly related to the physical and biological (or biodiversity) resources
as depicted in Fig. 5.2.
5.2.3 Changes: Shaped by the Interactions Between People
and Nature
The Sundarbans has experienced major ecological and physiographical changes due
to anthropogenic pressures and climatic disorder, which have taken a heavy toll on
the regenerative capacities of the forest and its ability to maintain sustainability.
Such pressures have resulted in the continuous decline of the forest coverage and of
its biodiversity resources. In 1776, the size of the Sundarbans was 17,000 km
2
. At
present, it is only almost half of this total area (Islam and Gnauck 2009). A recent
report shows declining trends in forest areas both in India and Bangladesh (Fig. 5.3).
The reduction of volume of important tree species of the Sundarbans can also be
analysed through forest inventories prepared by different agencies (Table 5.1). The
trend in growth of trees in each case is found to be declining.
The degradation of floral diversity also yields negative impacts on faunal diversity. As many as 20 globally threatened species inhabit in the Sundarbans. The most
endangered species are Batagur baska (turtle), Ganges River dolphin and the
Irrawaddy dolphin. Other threatened wildlife species include pythons, king cobras,
adjutant storks, white-bellied sea eagles, clawless otters, masked fin-foots, ring lizards, river terrapins, fishing cats, spoon-billed sandpipers, and eagles (Department
of Environment [DoE], GoB 2015). The most important faunal species, the Royal
Bengal Tiger, is also enlisted as an endangered species by the IUCN. Table 5.2 provides a summary of the characteristics of the Sundarbans as regards SEPLS.
1
1 The two major indicators for identifying SEPLS have been specified here based on the definition
by the Satoyama Initiative and illustrated by others (e.g. Gu and Subramanian 2012; Ichikawa
2013; Bergamini et al. 2013).
5 Traditional Knowledge, Institutions and Human Sociality in Sustainable Use…
(Bangladesh Forest Department [BFD], 2015 and The Guardian, 27 July 2015). It is
also home to thousands of spotted deer (Axis axis) and barking Deer (Muntiacus
muntjak).
These biotic along with other abiotic resources of the Sundarbans contribute
directly or indirectly to the economy both at local and national levels. Fig. 5.2 shows
how the resources of the Sundarbans have been utilised for different purposes, contributing both to the lives and livelihoods of local people and to the economy of the
country. The livelihood pattern in the Sundarbans area varies with seasons and supports an estimated 3.5 million people directly or indirectly (Sarker et al. 2016).
Wood and golpata collectors (Bawalis), fisherman (Jele), honey and wax collectors
(Mouals), shell collectors (Chunary) and crab collectors are among the major occupational groups of the adjacent forest region. The lives and livelihoods of the local
people are mainly related to the physical and biological (or biodiversity) resources
as depicted in Fig. 5.2.
5.2.3 Changes: Shaped by the Interactions Between People
and Nature
The Sundarbans has experienced major ecological and physiographical changes due
to anthropogenic pressures and climatic disorder, which have taken a heavy toll on
the regenerative capacities of the forest and its ability to maintain sustainability.
Such pressures have resulted in the continuous decline of the forest coverage and of
its biodiversity resources. In 1776, the size of the Sundarbans was 17,000 km
2
. At
present, it is only almost half of this total area (Islam and Gnauck 2009). A recent
report shows declining trends in forest areas both in India and Bangladesh (Fig. 5.3).
The reduction of volume of important tree species of the Sundarbans can also be
analysed through forest inventories prepared by different agencies (Table 5.1). The
trend in growth of trees in each case is found to be declining.
The degradation of floral diversity also yields negative impacts on faunal diversity. As many as 20 globally threatened species inhabit in the Sundarbans. The most
endangered species are Batagur baska (turtle), Ganges River dolphin and the
Irrawaddy dolphin. Other threatened wildlife species include pythons, king cobras,
adjutant storks, white-bellied sea eagles, clawless otters, masked fin-foots, ring lizards, river terrapins, fishing cats, spoon-billed sandpipers, and eagles (Department
of Environment [DoE], GoB 2015). The most important faunal species, the Royal
Bengal Tiger, is also enlisted as an endangered species by the IUCN. Table 5.2 provides a summary of the characteristics of the Sundarbans as regards SEPLS.
1
1 The two major indicators for identifying SEPLS have been specified here based on the definition
by the Satoyama Initiative and illustrated by others (e.g. Gu and Subramanian 2012; Ichikawa
2013; Bergamini et al. 2013).
5 Traditional Knowledge, Institutions and Human Sociality in Sustainable Use…