187
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
C.W. Finkl, C. Makowski (eds.), Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation,
Coastal Research Library 21, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56179-0_6
Chapter 6
Degraded Coastal Wetland Ecosystems
in the Ganges-Brahmaputra Rivers Delta
Region of Bangladesh
Shafi Noor Islam, Sandra Reinstädtler, and Albrecht Gnauck
Abstract The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Rivers carry 6 million m
3
/s water and
2.4 billion tons of sediments annually into the Bay of Bengal, but it shows no tendency toward rapid seaward progradation. Bangladesh coastal region is gifted with
vast natural resources, delta, tidal flat, mangrove forests, march, lagoon, bars, spilt,
estuary and coastal ecological environment which is very much potential for communities survival. There are 36.8 million people are living within the coastal region
and dependent on coastal water resources. The coastal water resources are drastically reducing due to unplanned use by the community and the stakeholders. The
coastal zone of Bangladesh is enormously important for the development and management of natural resources. The coastal water resources are playing an important
role to protect the coastal ecosystems and socio-economy. The present situation
stated that an integrated natural resource management plan is necessary for the protection of coastal ecosystem and coastal community livelihoods. The paper prepared based on primary and secondary data sources. The objectives of this study are
to analyze the present coastal natural resources management status. The study seeks
the deltaic wetlands ecosystem development and management strategies for ensure
communities livelihood and sustainable development of coastal resources in
Ganges-Brahmaputra Rivers deltaic coastal floodplain region in Bangladesh.
Keywords Coastal wetland • Ecosystem • Ganges-Brahmaputra delta • Degradation and management
S.N. Islam (*)
Department of Geography, Development and Environmental Studies,
University of Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong,
BE 1410 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
e-mail: shafi.islam@ubd.edu.bn; shafinoor@yahoo.com
S. Reinstädtler
Department of Environmental Planning, Brandenburg University of Technology
Cottbus- Senftenberg, Cottbus, Germany
A. Gnauck
Department of Ecosystems and Environmental Informatics, Brandenburg University
of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, P.O. Box 101344, D-03013 Cottbus, Germany
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
C.W. Finkl, C. Makowski (eds.), Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation,
Coastal Research Library 21, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56179-0_6
Chapter 6
Degraded Coastal Wetland Ecosystems
in the Ganges-Brahmaputra Rivers Delta
Region of Bangladesh
Shafi Noor Islam, Sandra Reinstädtler, and Albrecht Gnauck
Abstract The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Rivers carry 6 million m
3
/s water and
2.4 billion tons of sediments annually into the Bay of Bengal, but it shows no tendency toward rapid seaward progradation. Bangladesh coastal region is gifted with
vast natural resources, delta, tidal flat, mangrove forests, march, lagoon, bars, spilt,
estuary and coastal ecological environment which is very much potential for communities survival. There are 36.8 million people are living within the coastal region
and dependent on coastal water resources. The coastal water resources are drastically reducing due to unplanned use by the community and the stakeholders. The
coastal zone of Bangladesh is enormously important for the development and management of natural resources. The coastal water resources are playing an important
role to protect the coastal ecosystems and socio-economy. The present situation
stated that an integrated natural resource management plan is necessary for the protection of coastal ecosystem and coastal community livelihoods. The paper prepared based on primary and secondary data sources. The objectives of this study are
to analyze the present coastal natural resources management status. The study seeks
the deltaic wetlands ecosystem development and management strategies for ensure
communities livelihood and sustainable development of coastal resources in
Ganges-Brahmaputra Rivers deltaic coastal floodplain region in Bangladesh.
Keywords Coastal wetland • Ecosystem • Ganges-Brahmaputra delta • Degradation and management
S.N. Islam (*)
Department of Geography, Development and Environmental Studies,
University of Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong,
BE 1410 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
e-mail: shafi.islam@ubd.edu.bn; shafinoor@yahoo.com
S. Reinstädtler
Department of Environmental Planning, Brandenburg University of Technology
Cottbus- Senftenberg, Cottbus, Germany
A. Gnauck
Department of Ecosystems and Environmental Informatics, Brandenburg University
of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, P.O. Box 101344, D-03013 Cottbus, Germany