79
resource collectors have to collect resources more than they are permitted to which
adversely affects the reproduction capacity of the forests. Moreover, the illegal
encroachment into the forest, as described in the previous subsection, by the politically powerful ones has been possible with the direct cooperation of forest officials
through bribery and other illegal means such as embezzlement and misuse of power.
Going against its own policy, the government over the last few years permitted setting up of 190 industrial and commercial units in the ecologically critical area
(ECA) of the Sundarbans, which poses a serious threat to the biodiversity (Fig. 5.8).
The government declared the 10-km periphery of the mangrove forest as the ECA
in 1999, after the UNESCO listed it as a natural world heritage site. As per
Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995 (amended in 2010), no one is
allowed to set up any factory in the ECA.
Most of these agents and interest groups of land grabbers are businessmen and
industrials units who have powerful political linkage. The most recent and controversial project is the ‘Rampal Power Plant Project’, a coal-based power plant,
fraught with triple jeopardises in the three domains of environment, economic and
technical feasibility, which may cause dangers to the integrity of the Sundarbans.
The project is under the process of implementation.
5.4.4 Land Reclamation and Shrimp Cultivation
Conversion of land into commercial shrimp farming is the largest human threat to
the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem. The increase of the farms is mainly caused
through quasi-legal intervention. The farms are put in place by the powerful local
stakeholders, specifically, by the rich fishermen (not part of the indigenous people),
connected with political and administrative structures at local and national levels.
Types of Factory Numbers
Cement factory
6
LPG
7
Gas cylinder
1
Oil refinery
3
Ship building
2
Saw mill
15
Betel nut
processing
8
Rice mill
73
Fish farm and
hatchery
19
Saline water
refinery
7
Brick kilns
3
Others
46
Fig. 5.8 Factories near the Sundarbans. (Source: The Daily Star, 6 April 2018)
5 Traditional Knowledge, Institutions and Human Sociality in Sustainable Use…
resource collectors have to collect resources more than they are permitted to which
adversely affects the reproduction capacity of the forests. Moreover, the illegal
encroachment into the forest, as described in the previous subsection, by the politically powerful ones has been possible with the direct cooperation of forest officials
through bribery and other illegal means such as embezzlement and misuse of power.
Going against its own policy, the government over the last few years permitted setting up of 190 industrial and commercial units in the ecologically critical area
(ECA) of the Sundarbans, which poses a serious threat to the biodiversity (Fig. 5.8).
The government declared the 10-km periphery of the mangrove forest as the ECA
in 1999, after the UNESCO listed it as a natural world heritage site. As per
Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995 (amended in 2010), no one is
allowed to set up any factory in the ECA.
Most of these agents and interest groups of land grabbers are businessmen and
industrials units who have powerful political linkage. The most recent and controversial project is the ‘Rampal Power Plant Project’, a coal-based power plant,
fraught with triple jeopardises in the three domains of environment, economic and
technical feasibility, which may cause dangers to the integrity of the Sundarbans.
The project is under the process of implementation.
5.4.4 Land Reclamation and Shrimp Cultivation
Conversion of land into commercial shrimp farming is the largest human threat to
the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem. The increase of the farms is mainly caused
through quasi-legal intervention. The farms are put in place by the powerful local
stakeholders, specifically, by the rich fishermen (not part of the indigenous people),
connected with political and administrative structures at local and national levels.
Types of Factory Numbers
Cement factory
6
LPG
7
Gas cylinder
1
Oil refinery
3
Ship building
2
Saw mill
15
Betel nut
processing
8
Rice mill
73
Fish farm and
hatchery
19
Saline water
refinery
7
Brick kilns
3
Others
46
Fig. 5.8 Factories near the Sundarbans. (Source: The Daily Star, 6 April 2018)
5 Traditional Knowledge, Institutions and Human Sociality in Sustainable Use…