209
as the local communities and stakeholders in the Ganges-Brahmaputra rivers deltaic
region in Bangladesh.
The coastal region of Bangladesh encompasses about one fifth of the country’s
landmass and supports livelihood of 36.8 million people. The region is becoming
more vulnerable due to natural and anthropogenic causes. Growing anthropogenic
and climatic impacts have been found to put multifarious adverse impacts on coastal
water resources, environmental and livelihood of the inhabitants of the coastal
region. It is estimated that the requirement of the Ganges fresh water supply to the
Sundarbans is 49 MAF and other rivers also supplying the similar quantities of surface water to the Sundarbans. Any endeavour through to be suitable for the wellbeing of the people as well as for the coastal environment, has to be viewed with
options considering the socio-economic and cultural traditions of the society. Any
particular adjustment to be included in the final plan ought to be within the technological capability of the people.
The study findings show that water and soil salinity intrusion is a severe threat
for agricultural crops production, mangrove ecosystems and its services as well as
coastal settlements and population. National and International political commitments and wills should be ensured properly. Therefore an integrated coastal natural
resource management policies and guideline framework for livelihood is necessary
and it is urgent for Ganges –Brahmaputra rivers deltaic region in coastal Bangladesh.
Considering the influence, problems, prospect and their impacts on socioeconomic condition of the coastal community and on the ecosystems of coastal
natural resources, the strategies and intervention in planning is necessary. There is a
potential realization that effective coastal water resources management at local level
is essential and appropriate management structure should be developed.
The study would suggest that most mangroves along the coast of Bangladesh
would disappear under sea-level rise scenarios when rate of rise up to 1.5 cm year
−1
have been predicted. Therefore an integrated coastal water resources management
policies and guideline framework is necessary and it is emergency. The finding of
this study could help to the policy and decision makers to prepare a guideline framework for coastal wetland resources protection, conservation and management in
Bangladesh.
Besides the above elements and factors the following important issues should be
included in the national coastal wetland resources management and conservation
plan, which should be developed based on the changing tendency of ecosystems in
the deltaic coastal region of Bangladesh; the following recommendations could be
considered in making the policy framework for better management such as; For
achieving the goal for sustainable coastal wetland water resources management
plan the following steps should be undertaken and included in policy making;
• Increase coastal community socio-economic welfare and alleviate poverty for
sustainable livelihood in the vulnerable coastal region. Provide alternative
income generation opportunities to the coastal communities that should ecologically friendly and profitable.
6 Degraded Coastal Wetland Ecosystems in the Ganges-Brahmaputra Rivers Delta…
as the local communities and stakeholders in the Ganges-Brahmaputra rivers deltaic
region in Bangladesh.
The coastal region of Bangladesh encompasses about one fifth of the country’s
landmass and supports livelihood of 36.8 million people. The region is becoming
more vulnerable due to natural and anthropogenic causes. Growing anthropogenic
and climatic impacts have been found to put multifarious adverse impacts on coastal
water resources, environmental and livelihood of the inhabitants of the coastal
region. It is estimated that the requirement of the Ganges fresh water supply to the
Sundarbans is 49 MAF and other rivers also supplying the similar quantities of surface water to the Sundarbans. Any endeavour through to be suitable for the wellbeing of the people as well as for the coastal environment, has to be viewed with
options considering the socio-economic and cultural traditions of the society. Any
particular adjustment to be included in the final plan ought to be within the technological capability of the people.
The study findings show that water and soil salinity intrusion is a severe threat
for agricultural crops production, mangrove ecosystems and its services as well as
coastal settlements and population. National and International political commitments and wills should be ensured properly. Therefore an integrated coastal natural
resource management policies and guideline framework for livelihood is necessary
and it is urgent for Ganges –Brahmaputra rivers deltaic region in coastal Bangladesh.
Considering the influence, problems, prospect and their impacts on socioeconomic condition of the coastal community and on the ecosystems of coastal
natural resources, the strategies and intervention in planning is necessary. There is a
potential realization that effective coastal water resources management at local level
is essential and appropriate management structure should be developed.
The study would suggest that most mangroves along the coast of Bangladesh
would disappear under sea-level rise scenarios when rate of rise up to 1.5 cm year
−1
have been predicted. Therefore an integrated coastal water resources management
policies and guideline framework is necessary and it is emergency. The finding of
this study could help to the policy and decision makers to prepare a guideline framework for coastal wetland resources protection, conservation and management in
Bangladesh.
Besides the above elements and factors the following important issues should be
included in the national coastal wetland resources management and conservation
plan, which should be developed based on the changing tendency of ecosystems in
the deltaic coastal region of Bangladesh; the following recommendations could be
considered in making the policy framework for better management such as; For
achieving the goal for sustainable coastal wetland water resources management
plan the following steps should be undertaken and included in policy making;
• Increase coastal community socio-economic welfare and alleviate poverty for
sustainable livelihood in the vulnerable coastal region. Provide alternative
income generation opportunities to the coastal communities that should ecologically friendly and profitable.
6 Degraded Coastal Wetland Ecosystems in the Ganges-Brahmaputra Rivers Delta…