huge amount of carbon stored in them. During my field work in Sunderbans, a lot of
my respondents kept of highlighting the importance of the mangroves as their
protectors and thus the urgent need to save them. But poverty and the struggle to
live today prevents them from saving the world for tomorrow. Thus, afforestation of
mangroves in and around these islands need to be done immediately and on a huge
scale.
1.4.2 Changes Sought for in the Practiced Livelihoods
Agriculture is the primary occupation of the people of Sunderbans. The saline soil,
scarce water and the need to feed their entire family makes them buy hybrid seeds
and use lots of chemical fertilizers to get higher yield. The run off from these
fertilizers pollute the soil, the estuary and the local ponds. Sachs talks about the
growth of algae in these nitrogen rich water bodies and finally their conversion into
dead zones caused by eutrophication. The farmers know about the harm they are
inflicting but again they said that they do not have a choice.
Fishing is the second most important occupation of the people of Sunderbans.
For domestic use they fish in the nearby creeks and rivers. For market sale they go
out to the sea in trawlers. These trawlers stay out in the sea for long periods of time
and come back with huge catches. Only rich fishermen can afford such expeditions.
However, globally concerns have been raised about over fishing causing extinction
of several marine species.
Collection of baby shrimps is also a big and risky business prevailing here which
is also harming the habitat. But it is the only source of livelihood for thousands of
landless. Though there have been numerous occasions where women who are
primarily involved in this occupation, standing in knee deep water has been
attacked by crocodiles yet they continue to do it. Countries like Thailand, Taiwan,
the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia are also facing similar issues. In these
countries, protests are common against the environmentally harmful prawn fishing
industry. Small patches of mangroves in these countries are also under threat of
destruction because of unscientific capture methods. To mitigate the adverse
environmental impact some of these countries have developed “induced breeding
techniques” which is not being used in the Sundarbans. The quest for earning more
money in a shorter time frame is causing faster destruction of the ecological balance
of the delicate ecosystem of the Sundarbans (Bandopadhyay 2000, p. 4).
Simply stopping all these harmful practices for the good of the environment
might seem a good mitigation process but there is a dark economic reality behind
the scene. These steps could lead to the loss of livelihood for thousands. The
farmers and fishermen need to be educated further about the impacts of their
activities on the ecosystem. Alternate livelihood options need to be explored and
provided to these inhabitants for the greater good of the environment.
368
H. Pakrashi
my respondents kept of highlighting the importance of the mangroves as their
protectors and thus the urgent need to save them. But poverty and the struggle to
live today prevents them from saving the world for tomorrow. Thus, afforestation of
mangroves in and around these islands need to be done immediately and on a huge
scale.
1.4.2 Changes Sought for in the Practiced Livelihoods
Agriculture is the primary occupation of the people of Sunderbans. The saline soil,
scarce water and the need to feed their entire family makes them buy hybrid seeds
and use lots of chemical fertilizers to get higher yield. The run off from these
fertilizers pollute the soil, the estuary and the local ponds. Sachs talks about the
growth of algae in these nitrogen rich water bodies and finally their conversion into
dead zones caused by eutrophication. The farmers know about the harm they are
inflicting but again they said that they do not have a choice.
Fishing is the second most important occupation of the people of Sunderbans.
For domestic use they fish in the nearby creeks and rivers. For market sale they go
out to the sea in trawlers. These trawlers stay out in the sea for long periods of time
and come back with huge catches. Only rich fishermen can afford such expeditions.
However, globally concerns have been raised about over fishing causing extinction
of several marine species.
Collection of baby shrimps is also a big and risky business prevailing here which
is also harming the habitat. But it is the only source of livelihood for thousands of
landless. Though there have been numerous occasions where women who are
primarily involved in this occupation, standing in knee deep water has been
attacked by crocodiles yet they continue to do it. Countries like Thailand, Taiwan,
the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia are also facing similar issues. In these
countries, protests are common against the environmentally harmful prawn fishing
industry. Small patches of mangroves in these countries are also under threat of
destruction because of unscientific capture methods. To mitigate the adverse
environmental impact some of these countries have developed “induced breeding
techniques” which is not being used in the Sundarbans. The quest for earning more
money in a shorter time frame is causing faster destruction of the ecological balance
of the delicate ecosystem of the Sundarbans (Bandopadhyay 2000, p. 4).
Simply stopping all these harmful practices for the good of the environment
might seem a good mitigation process but there is a dark economic reality behind
the scene. These steps could lead to the loss of livelihood for thousands. The
farmers and fishermen need to be educated further about the impacts of their
activities on the ecosystem. Alternate livelihood options need to be explored and
provided to these inhabitants for the greater good of the environment.
368
H. Pakrashi