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and ecologically. The deltaic coastal areas of Bangladesh is about 710 km in length,
extend along the Bay of Bengal from the mouth of Teknaf river in the south East to
the Mouth of Raimangal River in the south west and includes the greater districts of
Chittagong, Noakhali, Barisal, Patuakhali and Khulna (Nishat 1988). The question
for sustainable development is a key concept in strongest driving force of the water
sector (Grigg 1996; Gleick 1998; Costanza et al. 1992; Islam and Gnauck 2007a, b).
Coastal wetland environment and ecosystem services play an important role in
socio-economic development of the Bengal Deltaic coastal region of Bangladesh
(Islam 2016). About 25% (35 million people) of population live in the deltaic coastal
areas and most families dependent on coastal natural resources for their livelihood
(Hidayati 2000). Most part of the Bengal deltaic coastal areas of Bangladesh are an
active or nascent delta with vigorous dynamism and the Islands or chars are formed,
eroded and reformed (Islam 2016). The Swatch of No Ground (SNG) is also a major
feature only 24 km far from the coast water and from the Sundarbans mangrove forest (Rahman 1988). The coastal region is composed of the land and the sea including estuaries and islands adjacent to the land water interface of south east Bangladesh
and the coast can divide into three distinct regions (Pramanik 1983). It is at the coast
where the heavily sediment-laden river water with very little salinity meets the
saline sea water. This mixing creates a unique ecosystems which have given rise to
the species of flora and fauna that exhibit their presence here. Amongst these the
most important are the Sundarbans with its unique tropical mangrove forest and the
wild life, the fisheries dominated by economically important species such as Hilsa
and Prawns (Rahman 1988). Upstream fresh water supply to the coastal region is
playing a potential role to make a balance of ecosystems. Therefore sustainable
deltaic coastal wetland ecosystem management is essential for the coastal community’s livelihoods as well as other stakeholder’s benefits in Bangladesh (Pramanik
1983; Rahman 1988; Costanza et al. 1992; Islam and Gnauck 2007a, b, 2016).
6.2 The Aims and Objectives of the Study
The aims of this study is to understand about unique characteristics of the coastal
deltaic wetland region of Bangladesh and its potentiality of coastal socio-economy
and community development and the role for the protection of coastal wetland
ecosystem.
There are some specific objectives of this study have been recognized as
follows;
(i) To understand the characteristics of the Ganges-Brahmaputra Rivers deltaic
coastal wetland ecosystems and its role in the coastal region.
(ii) To investigate the water salinity intrusion trends in the lower tidally active
mangrove wetland regions and analysis of the degraded wetland ecosystem in
the deltaic floodplain regions in Bangladesh.
6 Degraded Coastal Wetland Ecosystems in the Ganges-Brahmaputra Rivers Delta…
and ecologically. The deltaic coastal areas of Bangladesh is about 710 km in length,
extend along the Bay of Bengal from the mouth of Teknaf river in the south East to
the Mouth of Raimangal River in the south west and includes the greater districts of
Chittagong, Noakhali, Barisal, Patuakhali and Khulna (Nishat 1988). The question
for sustainable development is a key concept in strongest driving force of the water
sector (Grigg 1996; Gleick 1998; Costanza et al. 1992; Islam and Gnauck 2007a, b).
Coastal wetland environment and ecosystem services play an important role in
socio-economic development of the Bengal Deltaic coastal region of Bangladesh
(Islam 2016). About 25% (35 million people) of population live in the deltaic coastal
areas and most families dependent on coastal natural resources for their livelihood
(Hidayati 2000). Most part of the Bengal deltaic coastal areas of Bangladesh are an
active or nascent delta with vigorous dynamism and the Islands or chars are formed,
eroded and reformed (Islam 2016). The Swatch of No Ground (SNG) is also a major
feature only 24 km far from the coast water and from the Sundarbans mangrove forest (Rahman 1988). The coastal region is composed of the land and the sea including estuaries and islands adjacent to the land water interface of south east Bangladesh
and the coast can divide into three distinct regions (Pramanik 1983). It is at the coast
where the heavily sediment-laden river water with very little salinity meets the
saline sea water. This mixing creates a unique ecosystems which have given rise to
the species of flora and fauna that exhibit their presence here. Amongst these the
most important are the Sundarbans with its unique tropical mangrove forest and the
wild life, the fisheries dominated by economically important species such as Hilsa
and Prawns (Rahman 1988). Upstream fresh water supply to the coastal region is
playing a potential role to make a balance of ecosystems. Therefore sustainable
deltaic coastal wetland ecosystem management is essential for the coastal community’s livelihoods as well as other stakeholder’s benefits in Bangladesh (Pramanik
1983; Rahman 1988; Costanza et al. 1992; Islam and Gnauck 2007a, b, 2016).
6.2 The Aims and Objectives of the Study
The aims of this study is to understand about unique characteristics of the coastal
deltaic wetland region of Bangladesh and its potentiality of coastal socio-economy
and community development and the role for the protection of coastal wetland
ecosystem.
There are some specific objectives of this study have been recognized as
follows;
(i) To understand the characteristics of the Ganges-Brahmaputra Rivers deltaic
coastal wetland ecosystems and its role in the coastal region.
(ii) To investigate the water salinity intrusion trends in the lower tidally active
mangrove wetland regions and analysis of the degraded wetland ecosystem in
the deltaic floodplain regions in Bangladesh.
6 Degraded Coastal Wetland Ecosystems in the Ganges-Brahmaputra Rivers Delta…