193
6.5 Degradation of Coastal Wetland Ecosystems
in the Ganges-Brahmaputra Rivers Deltaic Region
The coastal zone is a large and diverse area comprising a rich array of social, economic and environmental resources (Iftekhar 2006). The continental shelf of
Bangladesh coast is about 66,000 km
2
and the coastal water is very shallow less than
10 m depth covering about 24,000 km
2
and (up to 200 m depth) covers about
70,000 km
2
. The area of EEZ is about 1, 64,000 km
2
which is larger than the land
area is 1,47,570 km
2
of the country (Islam 2016; Islam et al. 2016). The sector contributes 22% of the total animal protein intake of the country. The Bangladesh
coastal zone also provides a natural and cultural heritage, the Sundarbans natural
world heritage site, indigenous life style, and tangible and intangible cultural heritage and historic events. It contains natural resources that are a natural inheritance
of immense economic, cultural and intrinsic value. Coastal communities enjoy the
coastal resources such as; mangrove forest, indigenous cultural events, sand shore
beaches, sun and the eco-tourism in the Sundarbans natural heritage site. There are
lots of cultural activities in the coastal region which are dependent on coastal environment and its elements (Islam and Gnauck 2007a, b).
Damage of coastal ecosystems poses a direct threat to human survival in the
coastal region in Bangladesh. This is primarily because coastal resources are an
important source of both food and income and critical for business through ports,
industrial development and coastal-marine biodiversity resources (Fig. 6.2). In
recent years coastal area is becoming attractive for tourism and recreation purposes.
Fish and sea food are primary sources of animal protection in the coastal region
(Tan et al. 1997; Islam and Gnauck 2007a, b). In the coastal region of Bangladesh
where shrimp farms are densely concentrated, such natural disasters have coast
thousands of lives. The destruction of mangroves also alters the regional water system and coastal habitats, affecting fisheries coastal ecosystem balances and climate
stability.
All of these effects reduce the fertility of land located in nearby areas
(Biksham and Andrea 1996). It is estimated that 90% of all marine organisms spend
some portion of their life cycle within mangrove system (Adeel and Pomeray 2002).
The Sundarbans mangrove forests furnish ecosystem services made all the more
valuable by climate change. They protect coastal communities from cyclone and
storm damage, and this function may become even more important as climate
change intensifies. Globally, mangroves are being cleaned or damaged at the alarming rate of 1–2% annually and in Bangladesh case it is the same. The Chakoria
Sundarbans mangrove forest of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh already cleaned up one
decade ago which is occupied by shrimp culture and looks like a saline desert. The
Challenge of coastal environment and water resources management in Bangladesh
is to identify the trends impacting on coastal resources, balance the multiple and
competing demands and responds with strategies to achieve sustainable management of the coast.
6 Degraded Coastal Wetland Ecosystems in the Ganges-Brahmaputra Rivers Delta…
6.5 Degradation of Coastal Wetland Ecosystems
in the Ganges-Brahmaputra Rivers Deltaic Region
The coastal zone is a large and diverse area comprising a rich array of social, economic and environmental resources (Iftekhar 2006). The continental shelf of
Bangladesh coast is about 66,000 km
2
and the coastal water is very shallow less than
10 m depth covering about 24,000 km
2
and (up to 200 m depth) covers about
70,000 km
2
. The area of EEZ is about 1, 64,000 km
2
which is larger than the land
area is 1,47,570 km
2
of the country (Islam 2016; Islam et al. 2016). The sector contributes 22% of the total animal protein intake of the country. The Bangladesh
coastal zone also provides a natural and cultural heritage, the Sundarbans natural
world heritage site, indigenous life style, and tangible and intangible cultural heritage and historic events. It contains natural resources that are a natural inheritance
of immense economic, cultural and intrinsic value. Coastal communities enjoy the
coastal resources such as; mangrove forest, indigenous cultural events, sand shore
beaches, sun and the eco-tourism in the Sundarbans natural heritage site. There are
lots of cultural activities in the coastal region which are dependent on coastal environment and its elements (Islam and Gnauck 2007a, b).
Damage of coastal ecosystems poses a direct threat to human survival in the
coastal region in Bangladesh. This is primarily because coastal resources are an
important source of both food and income and critical for business through ports,
industrial development and coastal-marine biodiversity resources (Fig. 6.2). In
recent years coastal area is becoming attractive for tourism and recreation purposes.
Fish and sea food are primary sources of animal protection in the coastal region
(Tan et al. 1997; Islam and Gnauck 2007a, b). In the coastal region of Bangladesh
where shrimp farms are densely concentrated, such natural disasters have coast
thousands of lives. The destruction of mangroves also alters the regional water system and coastal habitats, affecting fisheries coastal ecosystem balances and climate
stability.
All of these effects reduce the fertility of land located in nearby areas
(Biksham and Andrea 1996). It is estimated that 90% of all marine organisms spend
some portion of their life cycle within mangrove system (Adeel and Pomeray 2002).
The Sundarbans mangrove forests furnish ecosystem services made all the more
valuable by climate change. They protect coastal communities from cyclone and
storm damage, and this function may become even more important as climate
change intensifies. Globally, mangroves are being cleaned or damaged at the alarming rate of 1–2% annually and in Bangladesh case it is the same. The Chakoria
Sundarbans mangrove forest of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh already cleaned up one
decade ago which is occupied by shrimp culture and looks like a saline desert. The
Challenge of coastal environment and water resources management in Bangladesh
is to identify the trends impacting on coastal resources, balance the multiple and
competing demands and responds with strategies to achieve sustainable management of the coast.
6 Degraded Coastal Wetland Ecosystems in the Ganges-Brahmaputra Rivers Delta…