Proceedings of Trans-boundary Sundarban workshop (October 3 to 6, 2012)

TRANS BOUNDARYSUNDARBAN WORKSHOP

Organised by:State Project Management Unit (SPMU), ICZM Project, West Bengal

Institute of Environmental Studies & Wetland Management (IESWM)WWF-India & (Environment Governed Integrated Organisation (EnGIO)

October 3-6, 2012

Prepared by: WWF-India & Environment Governed Integrated Organisation (EnGIO)

Submitted to:Institute of Environmental Studies & Wetland Management (IESWM);

Department of Environment; Government of West Bengal

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TRANS BOUNDARY SUNDARBAN WORKSHOP

Organised by State Project Management Unit (SPMU), ICZM Project, West Bengal,Institute of Environmental Studies & Wetland Management, WWF-India & EnGIO

Published byEnvironment Governed Integrated Organisation (EnGIO) 26/1 Ramesh Mitra Road, Kolkata 700025www.engio.in&WWF-India, 68A Jodhpur Park, Kolkata 700068www.wwfindia.org

January 2013

Printed byM/s Phildon3 Suresh Sarkar RoadKolkata 700014

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Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Prologue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Report on Inaugural Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Report on Technical Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

A. Geomorphology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Dr. Maminul Haque Sarker on ‘Geomorphology’ Prof. Kalyan Rudra on ‘Understanding the Fluvial Processes Operating in the Ganga Delta’ Prof. Pradip K. Sikdar on ‘Future Research Needs on Sustainable Ground Water Management of Sundarban’

B. Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Dr. ASM Shahidul Haque on ‘Collective Action to Reduce Climate Disaster Risks’ Anshuman Das on ‘Sunderban – the issues in Agriculture’

C. Fishery and Biodiversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Prof. Dewan Ali Ahsan on ‘Fisheries Sector of Sundarbans Ecosystem- A Bangladesh perspective’ Prof. Aniruddha Mukhopadhyay on ‘Sunderban Resources and Prospects’

D. Public Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Dr. Soumitra Roy on ‘Public health in Sundarbans’

E. Disaster Response. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Mokhlesur Rahman on ‘Communities’ Observations and Disaster Perceptions in an Age of Climate Change’ Jude Henriques on ‘Managing Disasters in Sundarbans’ Kakoli Sen Sarma, ‘Disaster Management Preparedness in Indian Sundarban’

F. Tiger Conservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Md. Akbar Hossain and Md. Mozaharul Islam on ‘Tiger & Co-management’ Dr. Subrat Mukherjee on ‘Wildlife governance and conflicts’

G. Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 M. Monwarul Islam, Mr. Abdul Maqueeb Majumdar and Mr. Manas Ghosh on Environment Communication Jayanta Basu on ‘Communicating Sundarbans, Triggering thoughts’

Interface Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Formulation of Priority Matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Trans-boundary Proposal Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Way Forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Annexture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Presenters’ Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Other Participants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Copy of Presentations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Bon beyond border . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Contents

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BCAS: Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies

CCDRER: Collective action to reducing Climate Disaster Risks and Enhancing Resilience of the vulnerable coastal communities around the Sundarban

CEGIS: Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services

DRR: Disaster Risk Reduction

EnGIO: Environment Governed Integrated Organisation

ICZM: Integrated Coastal Zone Management

IESWM: Institute of Environmental Studies & Wetland Management

IISWBM: Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Kolkata

IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature

WWF India: World Wide Fund for Nature India

Abbreviation

NB: The authors have used various spellings of Sundarban, which have been kept unchanged in their pre-sentations. However, in the main text and otherwise, the spelling ‘Sundarban’ has been used.

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A two-day trans-boundary workshop cum meeting on conservation of the pristine ecosystem of Sun-

darban across India and Bangladesh was organized on board MV Paramahansa while cruising from Kolkata to Sundarban and back during 3-6 October 2012. The en-deavour was supported by the World Bank supported Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Proj-ect by the Department of Environment, Government of West Bengal in association with non-profits WWF-India and Environment Governed Integrated Organisa-tion (EnGIO).

The main objective of the meeting was to cater the formation of a Sundarban Stakeholder Network consisting of independent experts, organizations, academic and business institutes, media and other relevant professional outfits; supplemented by relevant government departments/organizations. Sundarban Stakeholder Network proposes to play a pivotal role in finding a bouquet of trans-boundary and transformative solutions for conserving the unique natural heritage, and to usher in sustainable development in the eco-region.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh as well as those from Government of India apart from independent experts; representatives from non-governmental organisations and academicians as well as from media.

From Bangladesh side senior officials from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Forest Department, Bangladesh Television (public broadcaster) attended the meet apart from academicians from Dhaka University, and representatives from various other organizations of repute such as CEGIS, BCAS, and IUCN Bangladesh, among others. Representatives from premiere private audio-visual channels like ATN Bangla and Channel I also attended the meeting.

From the Indian side, participants included officials from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Finance, Doordarshan, Department of Environment, Govt. of West Bengal, Directorate of Forests, Govt. of West Bengal besides academicians from Calcutta University, Jadavpur University & Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM) and other non-governmental organizations of repute such as WWF- India, CARITAS, EnGIO, and Welthungerhilfe, among others. ATN Bangla, a Bengali language television channel, deputed a representative from its Kolkata office as well.

The World Bank was represented by senior officials from its offices in Washington DC, New Delhi, and Dhaka.

Through 4th and 5th October’ 2012, seven technical sessions were held on thematic areas like Geomorphology, Agriculture, Fishery and Biodiversity, Public Health, Disaster Response, Tiger Conservation, and Media & Communication. These sessions were preceded by an inaugural session where the broad aim and objective of the workshop was introduced by the panel of experts involved directly with the organisation of the meeting.

In the concluding session, a matrix was formulated with broad heads such as Policy, Research and Implementation based on the technical presentations and the comments/ discussions/ recommendations triggered by those during earlier sessions. Subsequently, joint concept notes on key issues as identified were presented by trans-boundary teams being formed among the participants.

All the proposed concepts were thoroughly reviewed and it was agreed in general that those being transformative and trans-boundary in nature, would be pursued by the Sundarban Stakeholder Network.

Executive Summary

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It was also agreed upon that Sundarban Stakeholder Network would have a dedicated secretariat; with Indian and Bangladesh chapters. The World Bank, in general, was supportive to the idea of a common Sundarban Stakeholders Network secretariat and expressed willingness to financially support the exercise – running of the secretariats in two countries and the key trans-boundary and transformative projects as

to be undertaken under the aegis and facilitation of Sundarban Stakeholder Network - once the two national governments concur to such an idea.

A six member committee (four from Bangladesh and two from India) was formed to follow up the discussed agendas; roadmap and also to maintain the momentum.

6 Organised by State Project Management Unit (SPMU), ICZM Project, West BengalInstitute of Environmental Studies, Wetland Management, WWF-India & EnGIO

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Sundarban is a pristine ecosystem, located at the southern fringe of state of West Bengal within India

and Bangladesh, which harbours unparalleled biodiver-sity. The ecosystem, considered one of the seven most important wetlands globally, is internationally recog-nized as one of the major climatic hotspots.

The eco-region, including the human inhabited part of Indian Sundarban and the Sundarban Impact Zone in Bangladesh, has faced several hazardous events of natural origin in last few years. The events include series of high intensity cyclones impacting the region both in Bangladesh and West Bengal in India. Besides such high intensity weather events; the eco-region is also faced with other environmental deterrents – both climatic and non-climatic - like relative sea level rise, reduced flow of freshwater into the mangrove system, very high population density, indiscriminate fishing and prawn seed collection, degradation of forests and net land loss due to erosion on the Indian side.

Experts have always felt that a trans-boundary stakeholder interface – of independent experts, organisations, academic institutes, business institutes, tourism bodies, media and others supplemented by relevant government departments/ organisations - is of urgent requirement to find out bouquet of sustainable solutions for conserving, protecting and restoring the Sundarban ecosystem; as many of the problems are common to both countries in roots and ramification. Clearly the path to find the solution lies in visualizing the eco-region as one bio-geographical entity.

With this focus, a high level joint stakeholder initiative was organised in Kolkata in April 2010, to which non-profit Environment Governed Integrated Organisation (EnGIO) played a pivotal role along with number of other civil society organisations from India and Bangladesh, where the then ministers of environment

& forest from India & Bangladesh participated. Subsequently World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF- India) also catered a similar effort predominantly among the academicians and professionals.

Subsequent to such effort of non-state actors to bring independent experts, civil society organisations, academicians and researchers as well as relevant government organisations on a common platform from both sides – as stated - in September 2011, the governments of two countries signed number of ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (MoU) and protocols, including an MoU on conservation of the Sundarban and a protocol for conservation of Royal Bengal Tigers in the Sundarban.

In light of the above, and to complement stated government action, the need to formulate and formalise a trans-boundary Sundarban Stakeholder Network has to be appreciated. It is felt that such stakeholder network of independent experts, organisations, academic and business institutes, tourism bodies, and the media - supplemented by relevant government departments/organisations - is the need of the hour to find a bouquet of solutions for conserving the unique natural heritage, and to usher in sustainable development in the eco-region. There is also a tremendous scope of learning from each other and learning jointly to address the multiple challenges exacerbated by global climate change.

The proposed stakeholder network aims to create opportunities for enhanced sharing of information related to - but not restricted to - biodiversity, geomorphology, climate, freshwater flows, communication, public health, natural disasters and related social dynamics that can supplement conservation initiatives and sustainable development in the Sundarban eco-region. The network, over a period of time, targets to facilitate better coordinated and improved policy decisions

Prologue

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regarding the Sundarban eco-region on both sides of the international border, not only to preserve the sensitive eco-region but also to improve the quality of live and livelihoods of the millions living in the Sundarban delta.

As a curtain raiser to the formulation and operationalization of such network, a two-day trans-boundary meeting was organised jointly by non-profits WWF-India and EnGIO along with Institute of Environment Studies and Wetland Management (IESWM), Department of Environment, Government of West Bengal under the aegis of its World Bank supported Integrated Coastal Zone Management project during 3-6 October 2012 - on board MV Paramahamsa of Vivada Inland Waterways Ltd - while cruising through the Indian Sundarban.

The approach of the meeting was to discuss the drivers of change (both anthropogenic and natural including climate induced) in Sundarban and the impacts of them on its ecosystem including the people of the eco-region through the intervention of experts across the border. The considered drivers included high intensity weather events, change in salinity, relative sea level rise, change in rainfall regime, development deficit, human interventions (historical to current and upstream to local) and tourism. The areas upon which impacts were considered, include status of countering disasters, embankment, fishery, agriculture, socio-cultural condition/quality of life including displacement and migration, livelihood, tiger and its habitat and mangrove ecosystem. Communication including media communication was considered an important cog in successful operation of the network.

8 Organised by State Project Management Unit (SPMU), ICZM Project, West BengalInstitute of Environmental Studies, Wetland Management & WWF-India & EnGIO

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The session was moderated by Somnath Bhattacha-rya, Additional Project Director of ICZM proj-

ect, West Bengal. After a formal introduction of the participants, the session began with the welcome speech of Arijit Banerjee; Director of IESWM and Senior En-vironment Officer of Govt. of West Bengal, who em-phasized on conservation of Sundarban through joint participation of India and Bangladesh. Banerjee under-lined that the ecosystems cannot be divided and stressed on the need to make use of opportunities of learning from each other. He also observed the requirement to traverse the path of inclusive planning to upgrade the livelihood of people in Sundarban keeping in conten-tion the aspirations and necessities of people from both sides of border.

Tapas Paul, an expert from World Bank, referred about the past initiatives and stressed on the need to formalise and institutionalize the process of engagement between various actors from the two countries. Pal dwelt on the ongoing activities of World Bank in the region across two countries; and promised to help action oriented programmes; as emerged from the initiative.

Herbert Acquay, Chief South Asia; World Bank office, Washington, spelt out that Sundarban has been

a priority for the Bank and emphasized its commitment to support generation and dissemination of applied knowledge, capacity building and mobilization of finances from Bank through the vehicles of bilateral and multilateral agencies. He specifically promised financial support to the process undertaken in the workshop if the request for the same is routed through proper governmental channels.

Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmad, Country Representative for IUCN Bangladesh, called for supportive and supplementary actions catering to policy change for improving ecosystem and livelihood security as well as promotion of stewardship for equitable benefit sharing under Forest Department’s leadership. The expert underlined the importance of civil society participation in the process and emphasized that due importance should be given on areas like socio-economics, biodiversity conservation, ecological productivity, environmental security, good governance, communication, management shift, multiple use of natural resources.

Sejal Worah, Director Programs – WWF India, presented an overview of the projects where WWF- India has been working at tandem with the government

Inaugural Session

Arijit BanerjeeSomnath Bhattacharya, Jayanta Basu, Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmad,

Tapas Paul, Herbert Acquay, Sejal Worah

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collaboratively; as proposed in the current Sundarban project. She harped on the present development model as pursued in general and stressed on the need to revisit the same. On Sundarban, she emphasized on the similarity of the situation and challenges in both countries and argued for a development paradigm where developmental debts may prove manageable.

Jayanta Basu, Director of Environment Governed Integrated Organisation (EnGIO), explained at length the germination of the idea of Sundarban Stakeholder

Network and pointed out the possible positive fallouts of such an exercise. Basu dwelt on the model of the collaborative action of non-state & state actors and outlined the imperative importance of acting together in case of Sundarban eco-region; which has a high degree of environmental stake along with development deficit. Basu along with Banerjee and other experts present on dias released a publication called Bon Beyond Border; which has showcased the trans-boundary meeting.


Technical Session

A. Geomorphology

B. Agriculture

C. Fishery and Biodiversity

D. Public Health

E. Disaster Response

F. Tiger Conservation

G. Communication

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A. GeomorphologyBangladesh:

Title: Geomorphology

Dr. Maminul Haque Sarker Deputy Executive Director (Development) Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services

Dr. Maminul Haque Sarker oriented his presenta-tion on the change in physical processes which

impacts the dynamics of Sundarban Delta. While the geological formation of the Sundarban is of compara-tively recent origin, the hydrology of Sundarban is dom-inated by the freshwater flow from rivers Ganga, Brah-maputra and Meghna; which exhibit very high seasonal variation in discharge.

He also pointed out that this estuary is an active delta building one and is progressing towards east. Delta has progressed about 50 km towards the sea and the net accretion was 1700 sq km during the last 60 years. In the last two decades the net accretion in the Meghna Estuary area is about 12 sq km / year. Rivers are also continuously adjusting with the process of delta building and are expected to be unstable in future.

In recent years, the Farakka Barrage, built in 1974 on the River Ganga within India, has also affected freshwater flow into the Bangladesh part of the Sundarban. His presentation also dealt with the effect of polder in the rivers. It has been illustrated how the river Daud Khali has been shrinking very rapidly since polder was constructed in mid 1990. Polder reduces the tidal prism allowing sedimentation in river bed and the tidal pumping process brings the sediment to the channels in deposite prone areas. Polders, hence, cause large scale drainage congestions in tidal plains along the northern periphery of the Sundarban. The main source of sweet water into the Sundarban is the Gorai River. Due to upstream withdrawal of water in the Ganges

(parent river of the Gorai) and morphological processes at the off-take, the sweet water has been reduced in the Sundarban causing increase in salinity.

Dr. Sarker concluded with the poser that “Can Sundarban be able to adapt those changes induced by human interventions in the system?” and remarked that a detailed study regarding the disturbances in eco system of Sundarbon caused by human Interventions is needed for planning the sustainability of Sundarban.

Effects of coastal polders on rivers

Polders in the southwest reduce the tidal prism, 1.

which subsequently allows the sedimentation in the

river bed.

So-called tidal pumping process, brings the sediment 2.

to the channels to the deposition prone areas.

Polders thus cause large-scale drainage congestions 3.

in the tidal plains, along the northern periphery of

the Sundarban.

Effects of Reduced sweet water input

Due to upstream withdrawal of water in the Ganges, 1.

the parent river of the Gorai and morphological

processes at the off-take, the sweet water has been

reduced into the Sundarban.

Reduction of sweet water caused the increase the 2.

salinity.

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India:

Title: Understanding the Fluvial Processes Operating in the Ganga Delta

Professor Kalyan Rudra Geographer and River Expert Member, West Bengal Pollution Control Board Advisor, Dept. of Environment, Govt. of West Bengal

Professor Rudra began with a geomorphic prologue of Sundarban. Sundarban, the largest delta in the

world, receives the highest sediment load globally but still is not growing - rather sinking - from North-apex. The Bengal Basin covers an area of 140975 sq km out of which sub aqueous Delta and Bengal Delta cover 23362 sq km and 57506 sq km respectably. The flood in the delta is sediment dispersal mechanism and – the expert emphasised – that the people of rural Bengal, in general, welcome low intensity flood as it leaves behind fertile silt on agricultural field.

The expert pointed out that, quiet ironically, the mechanism set into place to counter the low intensity floods has actually magnified the problem. Since early 19th century, the engineering intervention into the fluvial regime of Bengal delta started with the construction of embankments to achieve a freedom from low intensity flood; which, in turn, has catered to disturb the underlying hydrological system leading to decaying of the rivers and constricting of the river mouths causing high floods. At present there is about 10,500 Km long embankment which protects the adjoining land from low intensity floods but impairs natural sediment dispersal mechanism resulting in distortion of natural drainage. In addition, due to interception of drainage system by the roads & railways, the floodable area gets expanded causing reduction in food production and outbreak of vector borne diseases; apart from bringing direct physical and livelihood hardship of exposed populace.

Clearly the so called freedom from flood was achieved at the cost of interrupted sediment dispersal mechanism. The rain could not drain into the river. The villages in Sundarban are generally two meters below

the high tidal mark whereas the forested islands have a different scenario as the sedimentation has been allowed on them over the period of time. The whole dynamics has triggered an imbalance in the delta.

Dr. Rudra pointed out that the approximate sediment supply into the delta during June 2010 & May 2011 was about 420 million tons shared by river Ganga (389 million tons), Chotonagpur Rivers (5 million tons) & tidal push back from the estuary (26 million tons). The tidal effect in the basin reaches up to Nabadwip in the north.

The expert highlighted the geomorphological uncertainty of the delta by reminding that the course of the river Ganga has been constantly changing with even an oscillation to a scale of about 5 to 20 Km being found at different sections.

Rudra recognized that the coastal area shows considerable encroachment of the sea. The possible

explanation may be lying in a range of reasons from subsidence of the land, silt trapping by manmade

SEDIMENT SUPPLY INTO THE DELTA

(June 2010- May 2011)

By the Ganga: 389 million tonnes.1.

By the Chotanagpur rivers: 5 million tonnes 2.

By tidal push back from the estuary: 26 million 3.

tonnes.

Professor Rudra pointed out the following

observations:

Ganga and Teesta rivers are migrating since 1787.1.

River Brahmaputra has migrated westward.2.

Main flow of Ganga is towards south east.3.

River Damodar has migrated south east.4.

Apex of delta has migrated south east.5.

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reservoirs, formation of submarine canyon in the Bay of Bengal to increasing storm surge & tidal invasion from the sea, global warming and thermal expansion of sea water.

Dr. Rudra summarised that the possible explanations of coastal retrogradation may be listed as:

Subsidence of the land due to autocompaction •of the sediment.Silt-trapping by man made reservoirs and •wetlands of the delta.Continuous flush of the sediments into the •“Swatch of no ground”- the submarine canyon of the Bay of Bengal.

Increasing storm surge and tidal invasion from •the sea.Global warming and thermal expansion of sea-•water.

The river expert concluded with the statement that he does not have solution to combat the above; he believes that we must leave meandering space for the rivers. He observed that its perhaps high time to start a detailed research as to the optimum space required for the river and to position the embankment accordingly.


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India:

Title: Future Research Needs on Sustainable Ground Water Management of Sundarban

Professor Pradip K. Sikdar Geologist, Department of Environment Management, Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Kolkata

Prof. Sikdar, who mainly dealt with ground water of the area, has focused on the non-availability of

sweet water in Indian part of Sundarban; bounded be-tween 21° 32’ & 22° 40’ North and 88° 05’ & 89° East and covering an area of 9629 sq km with a Population of 4.5 million (2001). The area comprises of 54 islands and is located on the lower plain of the Ganga Delta. It was pointed out that generally in the Indian Sundar-ban brackish Zone extends down to 180 meters below ground level and fresh ground water is only available beyond the point. Generally potential fresh water bear-ing aquifers occur within 180 meter to 360 meter below ground level. The recharge mouth of the lower group of aquifers is in Kalyani, Ranaghat, Santipur, Bongaon & Gaighata areas. Tarakeswar, Nalikul, Mogra, Pandua area serves as recharge zone of the aquifers in the east at greater depth. Fresh water aquifers in shallow depths are also observed but the storage capacity of such aquifers cannot sustain for a long time if water is drawn exten-sively.

It was suggested that the drinking / domestic tube wells may be placed at a deeper level. The farmers may also be made aware and advised to judiciously use the ground water for irrigation as the source is limited. Ground water utilization structures in this area have to be constructed giving due consideration to the regional hydrodynamic and hydro chemical scenario. This requires scientific management & planning for utilization of ground water in Sundarban. As the area is prone to frequent flooding, it is necessary that drinking water tube wells should be constructed on raised platforms (1.5 to 2 meter above the highest flood level), especially in flood shelters and strategic locations, so that flood affected people can get uncontaminated water from the tube wells. However

it is recommended that water quality testing is done at least twice in a year. The paper has dealt in detail how to carry out the water quality measurement in field.

Objective of Future Research

The primary objective of any research on groundwater

system of Sundarban should be to build a framework for

sustainable groundwater development in the Sundarban

keeping in mind the subsurface hydro geochemical

conditions and possible impact due to sea level rise in the

future.

A two-phase research can be being carried out

First phase

Building the conceptual hydrogeological model of •

Sundarban

Understanding the subsurface geology of the area •

by drilling and constructing piezometer nests at

different depths at 5-6 locations on 4-5 N-S accessible

lines.

Understand the hydro-geochemical processes of •

the aquifer system based on major and trace ion

chemistry, isotope geochemistry water types, hydro-

chemical issues and multivariate statistical analysis

to define the interface between fresh and saline

zones

Second phase

Numerical modeling of the groundwater system to •

find out the recharge areas of fresh groundwater

under different pumping scenario.

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B. Agriculture Bangladesh:

Title: Collective Action to Reduce Climate Disaster Risks

Dr. ASM Shahidul Haque Team leader, CCDRER Project Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS)

Salt water intrusion into the ground and recurrent droughts has caused substantial damage and loss

to agriculture and allied sectors. The previous climate change triggered incidents were also not favourable for agriculture, fishing and other natural resource-based livelihood practices I Sundarban.

Dr. Haque cited the importance of having updated scientific knowledge across borders. He stressed that the collective actions are required to reduce climate catered risks and enhance resilience of the vulnerable coastal communities around Sundarban. He also stressed that introduction of salt tolerant varieties and practicing drip irrigation may boost the resilience of the community.

The expert emphasised that the role of a good civil society outfit is to pick some good examples across borders and replicate. The community will replicate the examples if they find the practices useful and sustainable; opined Haque.

The expert pointed out the need to undertake following actions to strengthen the capacity and resilience of a vulnerable community:

Workshop; Training; Demonstration; Awareness; Alternative livelihood; Low-cost and renewable energy options; Promotion of agro-forestry and social forestry; Wider Partnership & Networking

Dr. Haque also prioritized the climatic risks affecting crop production system as follows:

Very severe risk: Salinity, Tidal surges, Drought, Erratic rainfall, Tidal flood, River erosion

Severe risk: Temperature variation, Salinity, Drought, Short duration of winter season, Water-loggingModerate risk: Tidal surges, Heat flow, New weeds, Pests & diseasesLow risk: Cold wave, Soil wetness, Fogginess

Recommendations:

Adaptation in Agriculture in Bangladesh

Adaptation measures in the contexts1.

Promotion of climate resilient crops (salinity tolerant, 2.

submergence and drought tolerant varieties) of

declining yields in coastal areas and

Short duration and early crops3.

Change in cropping patterns in the context of 4.

changes in by extremes (cyclones, tidal surge,

seasons and weather patterns)

Better farm management through new information 5.

dissemination, motivation and flood and water

logging),

Reduction of sweet water caused the increase the 6.

salinity.

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India:

Title: Sunderban – The issues in Agriculture

Anshuman Das Regional Project Coordinator Integrated Farming at Welthungerhilfe

Das expressed the concern of rising expenditure in cultivation and cited a common comment from

the farmers: “The profit is hardly seen. Yield can be more if I can be in a position to spend more”.

The expert explained the characteristics of Sundarban agriculture and cited the impact caused at micro level by the blocking of number of channels to facilitate shrimp farming. The channel dynamics (inflow and outflow of water) has been severely impacted as a result; claimed the expert. Low infiltration rate and poorly aerated soil poses a serious problem of water conditions vis-à-vis agriculture during at least four months in Sundarban. The rainfall has also become very unpredictable nowadays and production of kharif crop is completely destabilised. Increasing frequency and intensity of storms coupled with warmer winter and summer are stated to be posing a serious threat to agriculture in Sundarban.

Following are the characteristics of agriculture in Sundarban:

Moderate to high salinity •Low infiltration and poorly aerated soil•Disruption of natural drainage system •Water takes long time to recede•Water table is low, more sallow pump in recent •years for boro paddyChemical intensive farming•Small landholding•Poor infrastructure•

As per records, there has been a significant increase in the settlement from 1226 sq km to 1666 sq km during the period 2001-2008, while the available agricultural land has been reduced from 2149 sq km to 1691 sq km. This land use shift, along with the growth of population, implies an increasing threat to food security in Sundarban. Multi-storied agro-forestry is the need of the hour in Sundarban as stressed by the expert. It was suggested that the model should be adopted by government agencies. Projects on increasing agriculture resilience should integrate animal, bird, fish, insects, micro organism. The approaches developed should integrate local knowledge and DRR approaches.

Adaptive Principles

Use of locally adapted plants, animals etc. reduce the 1.

need for high external inputs.

Improving drainage system, mulch farming and 2.

cover crop will help reducing salinity.

Mixed/relay/rotation cropping of plants with 3.

different root depth & structure, resulting in optimal

utilization of water & nutrient & higher resilience

against environmental stress.

Irrigation using surface water. 4.

Biological soil inputs, which enhance capacity of soil 5.

to store water, carbon & nutrients reducing need for

synthetic chemicals / soil nutrients

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C. Fishery and BiodiversityBangladesh:

Title: Fisheries Sector of Sundarbans Ecosystem — A Bangladesh perspective

Prof. Dewan Ali Ahsan, PhD Chairman, Department of Fisheries University of Dhaka

“Science knows no country and we cannot divide the eco-system” reminded Prof. Dewan at the very beginning.

Ahsan pointed out that Sundarban ecosystem, particularly the aquatic resources, has been increasing falling prey to range of pollutants such as oil spillage, heavy metals and agrochemicals. Increase in temperature and sea level rise are also seriously affecting the Sundarban ecosystem and bio-diversity. Bio-indicator species like Dinophysis norvegica points to moderately polluted water quality of the estuary.

Brackish water and marine species are dominant in Sundarban. Prof. Dewan cited and explained the ecology of Hilsa and threats related to it. He pointed that 79% of the Hilsa stock is shared between India and Bangladesh. Owing to threats like over harvesting and climate related stress (delayed rainfall), the Hilsa stock is believed to be depleting but there have been limited studies on the standing stock of Hilsa and other aquatic fish.

He also discussed the dynamics of effective regulation practices in Sundarban for protection of Hilsa and the effect of same on fishermen working in the region.

Indiscriminate collection of prawn seedlings (through push and drag nets) is also impacting the fisheries. Any development of polder around the system would impact the breeding cycle of fishes and would have a trailing effect on fishery sector of Sundarban.

Recommendations:

Sustainable fishery management

Hilsa is a highly migratory trans-boundary fish, so 1.

joint initiative (Bangladesh, India and Myanmar) is

essential.

Temporary ban of Jatka and brood Hilsa fishing 2.

(during peak spawning season) should be maintained

not only in Bangladesh but also in India to maintain

the optimum stock.

Joint action may be taken to control diseases.3.

Stock assessment studies.4.

Department of Fisheies: capacity building for 5.

strong monitoring system-Joint cell for Sundarbans

ecosystem conservation

E-flow concept 6.

Awareness building programme using media 7.

Gear restriction at downstream so that fish can easily 8.

migrate to upstream

19



India:

Title: Sunderban Resources and Prospects

Professor Aniruddha Mukhopadhyay Head & Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Science, University of Calcutta

“....It is the quality of species which determines the stabil-ity of the ecosystem. A detailed account of the keystone spe-cies is required to be conducted....” was pointed out at the outset.

Dr. Mukhopadhyay explained about the ecosystem dynamics and interplay of biodiversity groups with special reference to crabs. Shrimps and prawns constitute the most important component of fishery in the zone. The most important crustaceans’ species are Penaeus mondon and Macrobarachium rosenbergi.

Dr. Mukhopadhyay also stressed that nekton and benthic molluscan community and fishery are affected due to the change in plankton community. It was also observed that the planktonic community is changing due to the change in physico-chemical variation of ambient aquatic phase. The ambient aquatic phase is governed by various factors like salinization, alteration of pH etc.

Dr. Mukhopadhyay also stressed on medicinal and pharmaceutical interface of the mangrove resources. Diverse algal population can be served both as a source of nutrition and pharmacologically important bioactive molecules.

Thrust areas of research can be:

Documentation 1.

Diversity and Stability2.

Ecology3.

Economic evaluation4.

Behaviour/ Ethology5.

Bio prospecting and 6.

Adaptation Studies7.

Monitoring the impact of climate change

Integrated coastal and marine management

Highly ecological, chemical and bio-

logical diversity: needs economic valuation

Community Participation

Sunderban

Needs in mangrove management

20



D. Public HealthBangladesh:

Title: Public health in Sundarbans

Dr. Soumitra Roy Public Health Expert Consultant, UNICEF

Dr. Soumitra Roy, a public health consultant asso-ciated with Unicef, has given a presentation on

the public health scenario in the Indian part of Sundar-ban. Extreme geographical barriers and abject poverty among most of the islanders have made the routine public health services inadequate and largely ineffective. Roy reminded that out of the 19 blocks in Indian Sun-darban, six are extremely inaccessible and lack even the basic facilities; eight are remote and severely underde-veloped and remaining five are in main land with greater accessibility and somewhat better living conditions.

People in the delta are exposed to various geo-climatic hazards in addition to the stress catered by poor infrastructure and uncertainties of livelihood. Chronic poverty aggravates the vulnerability to health risks. Roy drew a grim picture of Sundarban’s public heath scenario with examples cited from Gosaba and Patharpratima blocks, where on average one public health centre (PHC) is catering to the health needs of 110,000 people, which is clearly unsustainable.

Women and children are stated to be most vulnerable. The public health expert cited that for delivery, a woman has to travel on an average 8 kms consuming 4-5 hours of time with a huge physical strain. The travelling is a nightmare after dusk and anytime during the monsoon.

Moreover in an inaccessible terrain, often likes of boats and van rickshaws are required to ferry the emergency patients; which adds to the risk. Naturally it is no surprise that the institutional delivery in Sundarban was about 29 % in 2007-08, way below of the state average of 40.1% to 43.1%. The expert pointed out that on ground the health programme like IMR, MMR, Geriatric care and ICDS do not exist in the area.

Infrastructure bottleneck ranges from human resource to power supply. Dr Roy stated that the majority of PHCs and BPHCs are understaffed, and the electricity supply is limited; resulting in underperformance and underutilization of even the existing facilities. Moreover, he stressed on absenteeism and unaccountability that hurt credibility and reliability of curative services offered by the government.

Delivering a broad picture of the public health in Sundarban, Dr. Roy highlighted that more than 50% children (0-3 years) are malnourished. He pointed out significant number of malnourished children chronically suffer from diarrhea or respiratory tract infections or skin rash and receive partial symptomatic treatment mainly from local quacks. Most importantly, child vaccination against common dangerous infections is often affected due to non-availability of vaccines in the sub centres. In Sundarban, the rate of absolute non-

Short term measures

Training for Dais (local women helping in home •

delivery) to support ‘home delivery’

Improvement in quality of services through RMPs•

Strengthening of ASHA initiative of Govt.•

Advocacy with PRI to provide one hand pump •

for every 250 people and sanitary toilets with all

families

Strategic communication planning for home based •

diarrhoea management

Ensuring 100% immunisation to reduce infant deaths •

related to measles (will be a part of ASHA initiative

but Govt. to ensure service delivery)

Increase ANC coverage to reduce maternal mortality•

21



coverage of vaccination is as high as 7% while in the entire West Bengal the same is about 3%.

Poverty and poor infrastructure compelled the delta people to rely on Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) or quacks. Apart from the fact that the non qualified doctors provide friendly and personalized behaviors and serve on credit; they are often the ones available during emergency. Dr. Roy also informed that around 22% of 31210 families do not have sanitary toilet facilities in Patharpratima block and at any given point of time 5% tube wells are non-functional while 6% of all diseases are diarrhoea (WHO, 2006). High rate of hookworm infestation contributes to anemia.

Dr. Roy stressed to strengthen the ASHA initiative of Govt. and strategic communication planning for home based diarroea management to be initiated. The expert also insisted on the need of 100% immunization to reduce infant deaths related to measles as well as heightened anti natal coverage (ANC) to reduce maternal mortality.

On the broad remedial part, Dr Roy stressed on an array of short term and long term measures and also suggested that the following research objectives can be initiated in Sundarban:

Community based ground water conservation1. PPP model for critical curative care2. Effective communication on preventive health 3. issues Livelihood adaptation in sync with the climate 4. change

Long term recommendations

Advocacy with Govt. to improve institutional health 1.

services

Advocacy with PRI to undertake greater role in public 2.

health sphere

Community managed communication for effective 3.

behaviour change

Supporting communities to improve their livelihood 4.

system

Support to improve nutrition of the mother and 5.

child

Support to improve drinking water and sanitary 6.

toilet facilities

Making all stakeholders aware of climate change 7.

issues and its impact

22



E. Disaster ResponseBangladesh:

Title: Communities’ Observations and Disaster Perceptions in an Age of Climate Change

M. Mokhlesur Rahman Center for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS), Bangladesh

Rahman began with the basic premise that disaster risk and climate change are two threats to human

well-being those reinforce – and magnify - one other. He asserted that the occupational groups have different impact perceptions about climate related risks.

The impacts of reduced rain, drought and salinity have led to convert canals/ rivers to crop lands/ fish-shrimp pond and cause major damage to freshwater fishes.The expert pointed out that more often than not, the local community stands unaware about the actual

Recommendations:

Ecosystem-based approach (• integrated NRM-DRR-

CCA) with nested CBOs with effective networking

and consensus building may open up conduits for

large ecosystems like “Sundarban” management

Trans-boundary measures are the necessary •

conditions for success of some types of local

adaptation (e.g. uncertainty of future upstream

water supplies threatens stability of local adaptation,

technology and data sharing, joint management,

etc.)

23



cause and effect relationship regarding the phenomena such as ‘global warming’ and ‘climate change’. In this context he referred the terms such as climate-resilience (transformative adaptation), embankments, drainage, freshwater availability, good governance, etc.

The expert opined that to have a sustained impact on the livelihoods of the people, all the stakeholders should come in a common platform and develop integrated management practices. Rahman cited two case studies - one on the village Fultala and other on the village, Chakbara – to highlight the negative impact of climate change on socio-economic conditions of exposed populace.

According to Rahman, Fultala (primarily a rice farming village) had experienced decline of rice, vegetables and also drop in freshwater fish catch mainly due to erratic rainfalls and prolonged drought. After Aila, the misery only manifolded. The expert also referred how Chakbara village, a Shrimp farming village and dependent on Sundarban rivers and lower estuary for livelihoods, has suffered severely during and after Aila. He explained how the prolonged saline water

inundation had polluted agricultural lands, ponds; damaged houses; killed livestock; and led to mauling of mangroves and other plantations, freshwater fish , shrimps. As a consequence, the shrimp faming has come to a halt for over two years and Chakbara now faces severe livelihood crisis. Rahman also observed that poor management of Sundarban fisheries including in its three sanctuaries (non-weather stressor) has accelerated decline in fisheries production and biodiversity.

Bangladesh researcher reminded that high level of spatial variability exists even within such small coastal area in terms of livelihoods, disaster and climate change issues. Hence he argued in favour of an ecosystems based approach with effective networking and consensus building to open up conduits for the management of large ecosystems like Sundarban. Rahman also emphasised the need of trans-boundary measures for successfully adopting relevant local adaptations (uncertainty of future upstream water supply threatens stability of local adaptation), technology and data sharing, joint management and likewise.

23Organised by State Project Management Unit (SPMU), ICZM Project, West BengalInstitute of Environmental Studies, Wetland Management, WWF-India & EnGIO

24



India:

Title: Managing Disasters in Sundarbans

Jude Henriques International Disaster Management Consultant Caritas Germany

Mr. Jude Henriques stressed on developing proper early warning system and focussed on how it can

be communicated to the local community during disas-ters. He defined a “Disaster” as a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing widespread human, material, economic or environmen-tal losses which exceed the ability of the affected com-munity or society to cope with its own resources.

He explained the disaster crunch mode which states that a disaster happens only when a hazard affects vulnerable people. This model shows that vulnerability (pressure), rooted in socio-economic and political processes, has to be addressed (released) to reduce the risk of disaster. The expert, with experience of working in both Indian and Bangladesh Sundarban, broadly stressed on involving communities to counter the impacts from natural disaster. He explained at length the vulnerability of the area from high intensity tropical cyclones; expected to hit and cause damage to Sundarban. According to several reports, such events only stand to increase. The disaster manager especially talked about experience of Aila which had devastated

Indian Sundarban. He explained how some of the extremely severe cyclones had barely given a miss to Indian Sundarban apart from Aila and emphasised how both the community and administration presently stand extremely under-prepared if such a high intensity cyclone actually hits Indian Sundarban. Henriques focused on the need of better quality of information sharing as well as preparedness to face any disaster. However, disaster management consultant pointed out new age livelihood practices like using tin roofs instead of previously used thatched roofs are detrimental for cause.

He further explained the ignorance of the community towards early warning that has always led them to be the victims of disaster. So what nations can do at its best to be more protected is to raise community awareness about high intensity storms and the risks associated with these storms.

Components of early warning system

Make sure that there is an early warning system 1.

in place understood by your communities. Early

warnings can be delivered via radio, television,

mobile phones, or even door-to-door notice

Make sure that the emergency plan is working2.

Ensure that people understand what they will need 3.

to do before and after a hurricane. (People may have

to wait for 2-3 days after a hurricane before outside

help arrives.)

25



India:

Title: Disaster Management Preparedness in Indian Sundarban

Kakoli Sen Sarma Geologist and Remote Sensing specialist, SPMU, ICZM project of Institute of Environmental Studies & Wetland Management Kolkata

Kolkata based Geologist stressed on the importance of using a well calibrated modelling of trajectory

of oil spill and suspended pollutant in the Indian parts of Sundarban. The expert identified the role of enhanced trade including both import and export from Kolkata Port Trust as a possible reason. She pointed out that in a complicated estuarine system as in Sundarban, tidal current alone is enough to drift the oil slick/ pollutant; maximizing threat though water current and wind nor-mally stand out as key variables for modelling in marine environment.

Sen Sarma reminded mangrove, both dense and thin, is prone to high risk followed by intertidal flat;

both bare and vegetated. The expert stressed the need on finding more vulnerable coastal habitat areas through GIS analysis and risk assessment & undertakes priority actions in such habitats.

In order to arrest oil spill, the geologist highlighted the importance of disseminating knowledge and coordination with the respective departments beforehand so that impact of such disasters get buffered. Like the earlier experts, she too advocated the urgent need of the cross boundary interaction and support to tackle various disasters.

25Organised by State Project Management Unit (SPMU), ICZM Project, West BengalInstitute of Environmental Studies, Wetland Management, WWF-India & EnGIO

26



F. Tiger ConservationBangladesh:

Title: Tiger & Co-management-Bangladesh Forest Department

Md. Akbar Hossain and Md. Mozaharul Islam Forest Department, Bangladesh

Md. Mozaharul Islam explained the tiger ecology in Sundarban. He also stressed the co-manage-

ment in Sundarban and its status in Bangladesh Sundar-ban. The Ministry of Environment and Forest has issued Gazette notification in this regard and approved legal formation of the co-management organizations. The government has also approved to provide 50 per cent of the revenue raised from visitor entry fee from PAs to the Co-management Organization (CMC).

Based on the success of interventions in Bangladesh and taking account the limitation of forest conservation and management, the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) has decided to adopt the Co-management approach and to involve local people in the natural resource conservation and management through collaboration and active participation. The basis of such collaboration and participation would be “equitable sharing of benefits”.

Md. Akbar Hossain stressed that without participation of local people, it is extremely difficult to manage the Sundarban efficiently and ensure its long-term sustainability.

The experts pointed out the need to follow a common protocol in case of tiger census.

Recommendations:

Behaviour study is a necessity to make appropriate 1.

approaches. To enrich knowledge on tiger behaviour

more research is needed. It may open more avenues

for tiger conservation initiatives.

Joint tiger census 2.

Selection of best practices and protocols3.

Allowing the civil society to assume ever more 4.

important roles and responsibilities

27



India:

Title: Wildlife governance and conflicts

Dr. Subrat Mukherjee Field Director, Sundarban Tiger Reserve

Dr. Mukherjee explained the protection regime and administrative structure of Sundarban for-

ests. Government of West Bengal has been practicing wildlife governance in Sundarban. The governance in-cludes intensive protection of flora and fauna, mitiga-tion of conflicts, eco development works, ecotourism and research, monitoring and evaluation.

Dr. Mukherjee explained the tiger conservation in Sundarban and how JFMCs ( Joint Forest Management Committees) has played an important role towards conservation. He also explained that how alternative livelihood programs have helped the fringe village community to show a positive attitude towards tiger conservation claiming that also not a single retaliatory killing in Sundarban has happened for the last 11 years.

Dr. Mukherjee also explained the management practices in Sundarban to reduce conflict both inside and outside forest. He also cited the different research (radio collaring, alternative livelihood programmes etc.) being undertaken in Sundarban.

Echo-Development Works

Ponds1.

Smokless Chullah2.

Irrigation Channel (In Km.)3.

Medical Camps4.

Awareness and Training Camps5.

Deep Tubewells6.

Nursery (In Ha. = 2500 Seedlings)7.

Fuel Wood Plantation (Ha.)8.

Fruit Plants9.

Brick Path (Km.)10.

Solar Lights11.

Solar Lanterns12.

Micro-Planning Trainings13.

Study Tours14.

Community Centres15.

Jetty16.

Vocational Trainings.17.

Recommendations:

Research on tiger ethology and straying behaviour.1.

Provision of alternative livelihood programs to 2.

reduce dependencies on natural resources

Restocking of prey base3.

Joint tiger census 4.

Selection of best practices and protocols5.

Allowing the civil society to assume ever more 6.

important roles and responsibilities

Indo-Bangladesh collaborative platform7.

28



G. CommunicationBangladesh:

M. Monwarul Islam, Deputy Director General (News and Programme) Bangladesh TVAbdul Maqueeb Majumdar, Director Channel IManas Ghosh, Correspondent ATN Bangla

The Bangladeshi experts have a joint session on various facets of environment communication in

general and Sundarban related communication in par-ticular.

Mr. M. Monwarul Islam, Deputy Director General (News and Programme) Bangladesh TV stated that environment is considered extremely important area of communication but rued the lack of commercial viability. However he insisted that BTV used to carry environment related programme in non-prime time slots. He expressed hope that the stated platform might provide them an opportunity to share inputs on Sundarban related programme software in especially in the light of MoU signed between India and Bangladesh for co-operative work on Doordarshan Indian (Official audio visual channel of India) and BTV Bangladesh.

The representative from private media houses also echoed their respective commitment to showcase environmental programmes. Maqueeb Majumdar, director of Channel I, shared that Channel I has been telecasting programme on environment and nature for a long period of time despite not receiving much financial support but insisted that the programme has been well received within the wider audience in Bangladesh. Manas Ghosh , the correspondent of ATN Bangla, pointed out that their channel generally gives reasonable importance to environment and covers environment and climate change related issues widely. Ghosh reminded that ATN Bangla has been part of the initiative for building the proposed platform since it was visualized in 2009.

29



India:

Title: Communicating Sundarban triggering thoughts

Jayanta Basu Environment Communications Expert Director, Environment Governed Integrated Organisation Faculty, Dept. of Env. Sciences; Dept of Journalism and Mass Communication, Calcutta University

Basu dealt at depth regarding both social and media communication especially in the context to Sun-

darban. He suggested that different kind of communica-tion model may be attempted based on a matrix of target audience and target agenda. He clarified while in social communication, the targeted broad outputs include be-havioural changes leading to more adaptive population as well as enhancing the quality of life per se; in case of media communication, the structure should be a two way mode between the communicators and target popula-tion. As Sundarban is at the hotbed of climate change be-ing recognised by international organization, media com-munication should also target national and international audience, he suggested. Various formats of media com-munication, local vernacular paper, channel, short audio visual focus imbibing with mainstream media, global exposure through website and portal, etc. are proposed. It was pointed that no story of Sundarban would be com-pleted unless it covers both India and Bangladesh.

A joint media platform under the aegis of Sundarban stakeholder network was proposed as a vehicle to leap-frog the issue.

RemarksThe session is a joint one and subsequently experts from both the countries interacted synergistically. The

professionals reached at consensus that communication is a low hanging fruit and might be the appropriate instrument to roll on the initiative. Possibilities of undertakings of various collaborative trans-boundary media initiatives were discussed. Tapas Paul, environment expert from World Bank, pointed out that it may be a good idea to showcase Sundarban linked popular film in television with insertion of small Sundarban related discussion and awareness snippets in between.

Recommendation and resolution

A trans-boundary Sundarban Media Platform to be 1.

pushed.

Follow up on the collaboration issue with both 2.

India and Bangladesh nodal persons (as per the

MoU signed between Indian and Bangladesh on

communication television channel)

Explore options to prepare programme software at 3.

trans-boundary level, based on specific issues like

Status of island, Sea level rise, Migration, Fishing etc.

Generation of local and global media communication 4.

path on Sundarban

Document case studies regarding trans-boundary 5.

Sundarban

30



The Interface Session has been divided into three parts –

Based on the suggestions/ recommendations / 1. observations shared based on the presentations made during the technical sessions, a matrix was formatted under three broad heads – Policy, Research and Implementation

Based on the matrix, as prepared, formulation 2. of key trans-boundary project ideas and follow up discussion on the ideas proposed Discussion in general about the way forward3.

Interface Session

1. FORMULATION OF PRIORITY MATRIx

POLICYJoint task force to be constituted by the governments to deal with potential threats with specific •reference to 1) increasing salinity, 2) increasing cyclonic storm, 3) poaching, 4) impediments in the mechanism of sediment dispersal. The task force should meet stakeholders of both countries at least twice a year.A mechanism for thorough exchange of knowledge on agricultural methods between India •and BangladeshAlong the line of coastal zone management, we should consider river flood plain •managementArgue for more space for rivers•Educate planners about the adverse impact of putting up embankments•With rise in SL can there be an initiative to advocate livelihood changes for the people of •Sundarban?Financing water harvesting structures through government programmes like National •Employment Guarantee programmes•Focus on strengthening the education system and include incorporation of Disaster Risk •Management and Climate Change Adaptation in school curricula (and at Panchayat level)Research findings to inform policy making•For Sundarban, engineers, social scientists and biologists need to work in tandem•Review of existing policies, governance and strategies related to the Sundarban on both sides •and its relevance (e.g. co-management) with a view to developing Integrated policy for the SundarbanDecision-making systems between two countries•

31



RESEARCHJoint, synergistic and applied and innovative

River DynamicsHow the space for the river should be maintained in the context of human population explosion? •What kind of management plan should we follow?If embankments are not the solution, how can we deal with the short-term immediate •problems?Social and economic costs of retreating embankments?•Joint numerical modelling of the BoB•

GeomorphologyWhat could be the possible alternative approaches to solving the problems posed by the •geomorphological processes?Joint research on erosion and accretion for Sundarban as one integrated whole•What would be the impact of extreme (storm) events on geomorphology (erosion and accretion) •vis-a-vis gradual change by climate change, tidal and fresh water flow?Freshwater & sediment budgets of the entire Sundarban and its impacts on the delta system (in •light of planned infrastructure projects)Studying east-west cross sections to understand relations between physical processes and •biodiversity

Groundwater & SalinityWhat would a management tool to sustain deltaic fresh water aquifer be like? Would recycling of •waste water by construction of water harvesting pits help?Does groundwater contribute to lowering of salinity in inner estuary?•Is there any reverse gradient of saline zone being identified in the delta?•

AgricultureCan rain water harvesting and land levelling for sustainable agriculture be an option?•Research on salt-tolerant crops•What is the status of availability of saline-resistant rice varieties in Sundarban?•Is agriculture in the Sundarban still viable? What are the possible alternatives to agriculture?•

FisheriesWhat would be the ideal mix in terms of fish varieties and package of practices for inland fisheries •in SundarbanStock assessment of economically valuable fish species on both sides•Social and ecological and goemorphological impacts of aquaculture across the Sundarban•Impacts of ocean acidification on fisheries•Is climate change impacting fish/Hilsa production and its habitat?•

32



Biodiversity & WildlifeThere is a gradient/differential in biodiversity in the western and eastern parts of the delta •especially in terms of macroflora, avifauna and protein biomass which needs to be recognised.Assess the quantum of nitrogenous and phosphatic fertilizers being discharged into the estuarine •system by means of agriculture run-off and quantify the impact of the process in the creeks and upon aquatic lifeCorrelating deltaic/fluvial processes to biodiversity gradient is important and the current •knowledge gap needs to be bridged.How physical changes in the coast affect biological resources including livelihood?•(Systematic monitoring of tiger populations across the delta)•Biodiversity inventorisation•Impacts of salinity on species composition•Wildlife diseases (particularly tigers)•

Climate ChangeAre impacts of human interventions of the past being passed off as climate change impacts?•How long can local crop varieties cope with changing climate conditions?•Study of Climate induced migration (inter and intra country) vis-a-vis the preparedness of •community to counter disasters

Public healthResearch on migration and trafficking which have major impact on health and livelihood in •SundarbanUnderstanding of the health delivery system and the health seeking behaviour of the population •living either in Sundarban or within its impact zone in India and Bangladesh Impacts of climate change on vector borne diseases•

Disaster Management

Review effectiveness of EWS on both sides (including engagement and role of communities in •disaster management)What is common and what is the difference between Indian and Bangladesh Sundarban?•Validation of community knowledge through field based participatory action research•

CommunicationFormation of a Joint Media Communication Platform leading to focussed documentation.•Prepare programme on key issues of trans-boundary Sundarban issues related to climatic impacts, •develpmental stress, livelihoods, infrastructure and wild life.

33



Title Sector Applications Leading Institutions Cost / Period

Assessment and evaluation of risk and vulnerability of coastal fishery resources in Sundarban with special reference to anthropogenic and climate change impacts

Fishe

ry Application of the study will centre around ecological and toxicological monitoring of Sundarban ecosystem

Calcutta University and University of Dhaka

2 million USD / 5 years

Study of Climate induced migration (inter and intra country) vis-a-vis the prepared-ness of community to counter disasters

Migr

ation

Advocacy with Govt. for effective policy and planning on inter and intra country migrationEnhancing community preparedness and resilience against disaster

Bangladesh Centre for Advance StudiesJadavpur UniversityEnGIOInstitute of Social StudiesIISWBMIOMIUCN, Bangladesh


Formation of a joint media communication platform lead-ing to focussed documentation M

edia

& co

mm

unica

tion Help govts reviewing existing Sundarban policies and practices

Influence to generate appropriate response from Govts.Acting as constructive pressure groupIncrease community and other stakeholder awareness

B TVDDATNChannel iLocal small media outfits / groups


Standardization of Census Methodology and Systematic Monitoring of Tiger Tig

er/w

ildlif

e

Joint census along the border areas.Supplement the Actions towards the accomplishment of Protocol and MoU signed between two countries.Better Management of Tiger in the Sundarban.Capacity Development.Enhanced collaboration in forest protection and cross-boundary crime control.Analyse underlying causes of straying behaviour (repeat offend-ers).Reduce human-tiger conflict.

Bangladesh Forest Department.Forest Department, West Bengal/NTCA, India.WWF-India, IUCN Bangladesh

1.5 million / 4 years

Understanding the Hydrody-namic and Geomorphological Processes of the Sundarban

Geom

orph

ology

and h

ydro

dyna

mics Planning and design of embankments.

Impact assessment for any other infrastructure developmental projects requiring waterfront. Facilitate the understanding of inter-relationship between physi-cal and biological processes.Assessing the impact of climate change on the estuarine dynam-ics .Developing preventive and remedial measures to disasters related to oil spillage and other pollutants.Formulation of appropriate adaptation strategies.

CEGISIWMIESWMIIT, Kharagpur IISWBM


2. TRANS-BOUNDARY PROPOSAL CONCEPTS

In this session, based on matrix generated, seven proposal concepts were presented and reviewed. It was mutually agreed upon that those concluding session of the trans-boundary meeting all the proposals made in the previous session were reviewed and it was agreed that only the proposals, transformative and trans-boundary in nature, would be pursued by the Sundarban Stakeholder Network secretariat (as and when established). In all, seven proposals were presented encompassing agriculture, fishery, health, tiger monitoring, geomorphology and hydrodynamics, climate migration and communication. Out of the list, the proposals on agricultural and public health sectors were requested to be refreshed in tune with the objective of the trans-boundary platform, while the other five proposals were accepted in principal. Subsequently the proposal on public health and agriculture were duly received and added underneath.

The summarized version of proposals are as follows:

34



3. WAY FORWARD

It was agreed that Sundarban Stakeholder Network have a dedicated secretariat to start with. 1. Presently a six member Sundarban Stakeholder Network governing body, comprising of non-state actors, has 2. been formed to pursue the matter. Eventually the governing body is expected to be expanded with representation from various stakeholders including the two national governments. The members are Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmad, M. Mokhlesur Rahman, Dr. Maminul Haque Sarker and Prof. Dewan Ali Ahsan (from Bangladesh) and Dr. A. Anurag Danda and Jayanta Basu (from India) with Dr. A. Anurag Danda acting as the convener.The secretariat will have wings in both countries hosted by Environment Governed Integrated Organisation 3. (EnGIO), a nonprofit involved in the trans-boundary linkage process, and IUCN Bangladesh. World Bank, in general, was supportive to the idea of a common Sundarban Stakeholders Network secretariat 4. and expressed willingness to financially support the exercise once the two national governments concur to such an idea.A detailed meeting report and a concept note for secretariat should be developed and forwarded using proper 5. channels to both the national governments as well as World Bank for further action.

Title Sector Applications Leading Institutions Cost / Period

Strengthening sustainable and transformatory health care systems in trans-boundary Sundarban Pu

blic H

ealth

Commissioning trans-boundary multi-speciality floating hospital (in line with Orbis International’s Flying Eye Hospital)Strengthening community based public health facilities both in India and BangladeshEstablishing referral network system and innovative use of information and communication technologyStrengthening capacities of RMPs and Govt. Frontline Workers (FLWs)Improving nutritional status with focus on women and children

Southern Health Improvement Society (SHIS)Calcutta Medical College and HospitalAll India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health (AIIH&PH), KolkataJawaharlal Nehru University, New DelhiOne of the Private Specialist Health care InstituteOne of the local NGOs


Developing trans-boundary network of micro climate information and promoting non/off-farm livelihood options for natural resource dependent community of Sundarban Ag

ricult

ure a

nd liv

eliho

od

Create cascading network of weather & climate information especially for natural resource dependent community till village levelEstablishing multiple Agrometrological Field Units (AFU) in both countries to monitor weather data To provide assistance to livelihood services for natural resource dependent community AFUs will also to create models of alternatives economic enter-prises based on energy solution like biogas/solar lantern making as well as IT enabled services

Welthungerhilfe Centre for Advanced Studies & IUCN Bangladesh WWF Sunderban Projects Development Research Communi-cation and Services Centre (DRCSC ) in Indian part of Sunderban

USD 1 million/ 2 years

35



Annexure

A. Presenters’ Profile

B. Other Participants

C. Copy of Presentations

D. Bon beyond border

36



Arijit Banerjee, IFS is Director of IESWM and Senior Environment Officer, Govt. of West Bengal. He is responsible for overall implementation, monitoring and evaluation of ICZM project in the state of West Bengal.

Tapas Pal is Sr. Environmental Specialist at World Bank, who has played pivotal role in supporting a number of environment related projects in India including the Integrated Coastal Zone Management project.

Herbert Acquay is Chief, South Asia at World Bank, Washington. Dr. Acquay received his Masters in Natural Resources Policy at Cornell University where he also received his PhD in Natural Resource Policy and Management in 1993.

Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmad is the former Chief Conservator of Forests, Bangladesh and presently Country Representative of IUCN Bangladesh.

Dr. Sejal Worah is Programme Director at World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), India. She has significantly contributed in conservation and development sector working on management planning, capacity building, research and institutional development.

Jayanta Basu is an environment communication expert, a contributor in print and audio visual media, attached to The Telegraph, Faculty of Calcutta University and Director, Environment Governed Integrated Organisation (EnGIO).

Dr. Somnath Bhattacharyya is the additional director of ICZM project, West Bengal and Senior Scientist of IESWM, Kolkata,

Dr. Maminul Haque Sarker is the Executive Director at the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services, a graduate from University of Nottingham, UK.

A. Presenters’ profile

37



Professor Kalyan Rudra is an eminent river expert, and environmental advisor of Govt of West Bengal. Rudra is a former Professor of Geography and has authored many technical articles in national and international journals.

Professor Pradip K. Sikdar, a hydro geologist with significant experience of working in diverse hydro geological terrain, is attached to Department of Environment Management at IISWBM, Kolkata.

Dr. ASM Shahidul Haque, Team Leader, CCDRER Project in BCAS, Bangladesh, an MBA from University of Dhaka with significant experience in market development, value chain development and enterprise development.

Anshuman Das has been working in agriculture sector. He is Regional Project Coordinator of Integrated Farming at Welthungerhilfe with focus on improving quality and impact of community based Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Development.

Prof. Dewan Ali Ahsan is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Fisheries, Dhaka University and has been working on sustainable Hilsa fisheries management. Prof. Dewan was a team member in the International Trans-boundary Policy prepared by IUCN.

Prof. Aniruddha Mukhopadhyay is Head, Institute of Environmental and Atmospheric Science, Department of Environmental Science, University of Calcutta.

Dr. Soumitra Roy is a public health expert with WHO. He has wide experience in various developing and under developed countries across the world.

Mr. M. Mokhlesur Rahman is Executive Director of the Centre for Natural Resources Studies (CNRS) in Bangladesh. He has immense experience in ecological management through community-based approaches.

Jude Henriques is a disaster management expert with CARITAS. He had led the social mobilization and programme communication in Unicef.

38



Kakoli Sen Sarma is Project Manager, Senior Geologist and Remote Sensing Specialist in Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Project under Department of Environment, Government of West Bengal.

Md. Mozaharul Islam is Assistant Chief Conservator of Forests Heading Development Planning Unit in Bangladesh Forest Department.

Md. Akbar Hossain is Conservator of Forests in Bangladesh Forest Department and has vast experience in scientific conservation management and monitoring of wildlife.

Dr. Subrat Mukherjee IFS is Chief Conservator of Forest, with vast experience in forest conservation. He is the Field Director, Sundarban Tiger Reserve.

M. Monwarul Islam is Deputy Director General (News and Programme) of Bangladesh TV and has taken initiatives to promote environmental related programmes.

Abdul Maqueeb Majumdar is Director of Channel I – a private channel in Bangladesh. He is the pioneer to broadcast first Bangladeshi TV series on ‘Biodiversity and Nature’.

Manas Ghosh is a correspondent with ATN Bangla channel in Bangladesh.

Dr. A. Anurag Danda is Head, Climate Change Adaptation and Sundarbans Landscape at World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), India. He has done PhD in Sustainable Development from University of Twente.

39



Arup Barua is photo journalist and cameraperson at ATN Bangla Channel, Kolkata.•

Bappaditya Chatterjee is an environmental communication expert and associated with EnGIO.•

Bibhash Pal is Senior Producer in Doordarshan, Kolkata.•

Debashish Prusti, IAS is with Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.•

Dilip K Ray, an engineer from IIT and poverty expert, formerly held key government positions, Advisor •

EnGIO.

Dr. Rajarshi Chakraborty is Environment Officer in Government of West Bengal.•

Dr. Zakir Hussain, Special Advisor to Regional Director, IUCN Asia.•

P. Vyas, Director, Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, Government of West Bengal.•

Ratul Saha, Coordinator- Biodiversity Conservation at World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), India.•

S. B. Mondal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife & Chief Wildlife Warden for West Bengal.•

Sanjay Gupta, Senior Communications Specialist, South Asia Water Initiative at the World Bank.•

Shakil Ahmed Ferdausi is Senior Environment Specialist at the World Bank and posted in Bangladesh.•

Vivek Wadekar, Director, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India•

B. Other Participants

40



B. Copy of Presentations

24 12 2012

1

Complementing Government Action

The Role of WWF India

Sejal Worah

India: A transformational decade?

• Of the G20 countries, India to be worst hit byclimate change

• India needs to grow by at least 8 10% for thenext 2 3 decades to lift millions out of poverty

• The development imperative is not in questionchallenge is to promote growth without incurringmassive environmental debts

• Government, research institutions and NGOSneed to work together to develop andimplement the solutions

Species Conservation

IRV 2020 – 18 rhinos translocated from Kaziranga &Pobitora to Manas…now breeding!

High intensity of Human Tiger Conflict in the landscapesHigh intensity of Human Tiger Conflict in the landscapes Also Human Elephant Conflict in almost all landscapesAlso Human Elephant Conflict in almost all landscapes

41



24 12 2012

2

Location of mining blocks along the S P corridor

Leopard Presence

Tiger Presence

Jamai RangeDamua Range

SpringshedsSpringsheds in Sikkimin Sikkim

Phase2

LIVING GANGA PROGRAM

Phase1

Empowering communities forconservation and developmentthrough local partnerships insome of the remotest parts ofIndia

42



24 12 2012

3

Options for 100% Renewable Energy in Mandla DistrictAssessment of energydemand and renewableenergy (RE) potential anddrafting of a Roadmap for100% RE supply in thedistrict.

• Outcomes– Current electricity demandis 45 50 MW

– 100 MW RE potential– 660 Crore for 100% REsupply by 2020

– 60% reduction in carbonemissions from presentlevels

Climate Change

Carbon DisclosureProject

Climate SolversCotton

Pilot FootprintMapping

Current & Future Business engagement

Fisheries

B&I

MarketTransformations

Agriculture

Forestry

Finance sectorSustainableFinance

Low carbongrowth

Sugar

Rice

Palm Oil

Timber

Pulp and Paper

AquacultureWater

CurrentFuture

Sundarbans Delta Visionfor effective conservation and mangrove restoration

Thank YouThank You

43



24 12 2012

1

Geomorphology

Dr. Maminul Haque [email protected]

October 2012

Bangladesh- the land of riversThe river systems have shaped much of have shaped much of the history, economy, literature and rich culture of the people

Most of the ancient civilizations were developed on the banks of rivers

Vulnerability due to Natural Disasters

Rivers gives us water for ..

Irrigation

Fisheries

Navigation

Industry

Mega countries with population > 100 Million

The land formed by the riverssupports the life and livelihoods ofppthe hundred millions of people

Geo morphological settings of therivers in Bangladeshrivers in Bangladesh

44



24 12 2012

2

Nepal Bhutan

ManasarowarRakas lake Geo morphological settings

China

Bangladesh

India

Every year these rivers carry:one trillion m3 of waterone billion tones of sediment

More sediment makes the rivers more dynamic

Delta development process

Changes in sea level over the last 100 thousands year


Delta formation triggered theinitiation of modern civilization

Fisk’s model (1944) on responses of the Mississippi River tothe changes in sea level


The Ganges andthe Jamunaentered throughthree corridors

Barind Tract


1. Rajmahal Hill and BarindTract

2. Barind and MadhupurTracts

3. Madhupur and MaghalayaHills

MadhupurTract

RajmahalHill

Historical Changes in River CoursesLong term shifting of the river courses


45



24 12 2012

3

Shifting of the river coursesgduring last 250 years

Shifting of the river courses in the last centuries

Source: EGIS (1997)

Delta progradation during the last decades

Delta Building andriver shifting



46



24 12 2012

4

Effects of sea level rise

Net accretion was1700 km2 duringthe last 60 years

Delta hasprograded about50 km towards thesea

Very large sediment input generated from Assam 1950earthquake, the rate of net accretion in the last six decades

was very high

In the last two decades the net accretion in the MeghnaIn the last two decades the net accretion in the MeghnaEstuary area is about 12 km2/y

River response due to delta progradation

i

dn

dn Sea Level

Sea

Delta building process is being continuing

Rivers are also continuously adjusting with theprocess of delta building

Delta Building and river shifting


Rivers are also continuously adjusting with theprocess of delta building

The delta is prograding

In the last centuries, courses of the river shifted

from west to east


Courses of the rivers are changing in southwest

direction indicating the westward shifting of the

active delta

47



24 12 2012

5

Human interventions and theirconsequences

To grow more food and improve communicationsroadsculvertsbridgesflood embankmentspolders have been constructed since

Human interventions and their consequences

polders have been constructed since1960

flow and salinity regime of the riversystem have been alteredSometimes caused huge sufferings to severalpeople

BWDB’s Projects of


BangladeshKhuksia

Bokor

KadariaDrainage problem in

the Hari River system


Bhabadah

Hari River

Bhaina

Khuksia

MadhugramDakatia

Millions of peoplehad to suffer fromdrainage congestion

Few Photographs of drainage congestion


Effects of polderingEffects of poldering

48



24 12 2012

6

Daudkhali bridge at Rampal in February 2011

Polder wasconstructed in the

mid 1990supstream of

Daudkhali River atRampal, Bagerhat.

Since then the riverhas been shrinking

very rapidly

Daudkhali River at Rampal (neap tide in May 2010)

Effects of coastal polders on rivers

Daudkhali River at Rampal (neap tide in May 2010)

Effects of coastal polders on rivers Effects of coastal polders on riversMongla Ghasiakhali Navigation Route

Daudkhali River in February 2011 at low tide

• Polders in the southwest, reduce the tidalprism, which subsequently allows thesedimentation in the river bed.

• So called tidal pumping process, brings thesediment to the channels to the depositionsediment to the channels to the depositionprone areas

• Polders thus cause large scale drainagecongestions in the tidal plains, along thenorthern periphery of the Sunderbans

Reduction of sweet water input

49



24 12 2012

7

The main source of sweet water into theSunderbans is the GoraiDue to upstream withdrawal of water in theGanges, the parent river of the Gorai andmorphological processes at the off take, thesweet water has been reduced into theS d bSunderbansReduction of sweet water caused the increasethe salinity

Annual maximum salinity along the Gorai Pussur system hasbeen increased significantly during the last few decades

Concluding remarks•We are sitting on a very dynamic natural physical system

•Extreme natural events, such as earthquake influencesystem significantly

•Human interventions alter the system very rapidly•Human interventions alter the system very rapidly

•Can Sunderbans be able to adapt those changes induced byhuman interventions in the system?

50



24-12-2012

1

Understanding the Fluvial Processes Operating in the Ganga Delta

Kalyan Rudra.

The off-take migration

The flood in the delta is a sediment dispersal The flood in the delta is a sediment dispersal mechanism.mechanism.

51



24-12-2012

2

Since early 19th century, the engineering intervention intothe fluvial regime of Bengal delta was started with theconstruction of embankment to achieve a freedom fromflood.

It was the beginning of a new era to control the natural hydrological system

The embankment ensured protection against low-intensity flood but led to the decay of rivers.

Presently 10500km long embankment ensures protection from low-intensity flood but impairs sediment dispersal.

Since the roads and railways intercepted the drainage, there was expansion of floodable area, outbreak of

malaria and declining food production.

SEDIMENT SUPPLY INTO THE DELTA(June 2010- May 2011)

• By the Ganga: 389 million tonnes.• By the Chotanagpur rivers: 5 million tonnes • By tidal push back from the estuary: 26

million tonnes.

Distributaries of the Ganga

52



24-12-2012

3

Trib

utar

y Sy

stem

sD

istri

buta

ry S

yste

ms

The Tidal limit

MIGRATING APEX OF THE DELTA1991-2010

53



24-12-2012

4

ACTIVE DELTA: RECLAIMED AND NON-RECLAIMED PARTS

54



24-12-2012

5

The breach in embankment is a frequent event

19361764 - 67 2004

The possible explanations of coastal retrogradation:

1) Subsidence of the land due to autocompaction of the sediment.

2) Silt-trapping by man made reservoirs and wetlands of the deltadelta.

3) Continuous flush of the sediments into the “Swatch of no ground”- the submarine canyon of the Bay of Bengal.

4) Increasing storm surge and tidal invasion from the sea.

5) Global warming and thermal expansion of sea-water.

55



24-12-2012

1

Future Research needs on

Sustainable Groundwater

Management of Sundarbans

P. K. Sikdar, Ph.D.Professor

Department of Environment ManagementIndian Institute of Social Welfare & Business

Management, Kolkata

• The Indian part of the Sundarban is boundedbetween 21º32 �& 22 º 40 � N 8805 & 89 º 00� E

• Covers an area of 9629 sq km3370 sq.km in South 24-Parganas district1074.25 sq.km. in North 24-Parganas dst.4444 sq.km is inhabited and the rest isreserved forest .

• Sundarban area comprises 13 administrativeblocks

• Population of more than 4.5 million (2001)

• Has 54 islands of which Sagar island is wellfamous for annual celebration of Ganga SagarMela, lying at the southern most part of it isAshram of Rishi Kapil Deb.

Geology of Sundarbans• The Sundarbans is located on the

lower deltaic plain of the on thecomposite Ganga delta and iscovered by the Quaternarysediments deposited by the Ganga

d it t ib t iand its tributaries.

• The area is underlain by a thickpile of unconsolidated sedimentsof Quaternary and upper Tertiaryage.

Hydrogeology

• Groundwater occurs under confined condition in athick multi-aquifer system comprising sands ofvarying thickness overlain by a thick blanket of clayaquiclude.

• The piezometric surface of the deeper fresh wateraquifer generally lies between 2 m to 4.75 m belowground level.

• The rise of the piezometric surface due to monsoonalrecharge varies between 0.16 m and 2.54 m.

Subsurface hydrogeological formations of Sundarbans

56



24-12-2012

2

• Central Ground Water Board has recorded afalling trend of the piezometric surface duringthe period 1977 to 1997 in a borehole of depth274 m at Raidighi. The rate of the fall of thepiezometric surface is as follows:

• January – 7.1 cm/year• May – 17.5 cm/year• August – 8.9 cm/year• November – 5.7 cm/year

• Generally, in the Indian Sundarbans brackish zone extenddown to 180 m below ground level and thereafter is underlainby fresh groundwater.

• At places within 180 m below ground level lenses of freshwater bearing aquifers of various dimensions are present.

• These aquifers are lenticular in shape and are of limitedi b h h i ll d i llextension both horizontally and vertically.

• Therefore, the fresh water aquifers at shallow depths may notbe sustainable for a long time if used extensively for allpurposes such as drinking, domestic and irrigation.

• Potential fresh water bearing aquifers occur within 180 m to 360 m below ground level.

• The aquifers in the area occur under a thickblanket of clay thereby precluding thepossibility of direct recharge from rainfall.

• The regional groundwater flow indicates thatthe recharge area must be lying in the north-eastern, northern and north-western sides ofthe South 24-Parganas district.

• The lower group of aquifers isexposed in the Kalyani-Ranaghat-Santipur area inNadia district and Bangaon-Gaighata area in North 24-Parganas district.

• The rainwater infiltration inthese areas is considerable andprolific recharge ofgroundwater takes place.

• In the west, the Cis-Damodarbelt similarly has extensivenear surface sand beds ofconsiderable thickness inTarakeswar-Nalikul-Mogra-Pandua area.

• This entire area serves as azone of prolific rechargezone of the aquifers in theeast at greater depth.

57



24-12-2012

3

• Pumping tests conducted by the GSI, CGWB and SWIDindicate that the potentiality of the aquifer to transmit waterdecreases form north to south of South 24 Parganas district inrelation to the normal mode of sedimentation from coarse tofine grain.

Pumping test

• The transmissivity is as high as 10000 m2/day at Bhangar Iblock to as low as 500 m2/day at Namkhana and Sagar Island.

• The storativity value also decreases from north to south inconformity with the transmissivity value.

Pumping test at Raidighi• At Raidighi a pumping test was carried out in an exploratory

well by the State Water Investigation Directorate.

• Multiple strainers were placed in the well at a depth of 152.44m to 167.68 m and 176.83 m to 195.12m. The drawdownrecorded was 10 75 m for a discharge of 0 05 m3/sec (4320recorded was 10.75 m for a discharge of 0.05 m3/sec (4320m3/day) .

• The transmissivity and storage coefficient of the aquifer are1106 m2/day and 3.12 x10-4 respectively.

• The values indicate that the potentiality of the aquifer iscomparatively low and the groundwater occurs under aconfined condition.

• The hydrogeologicalfeatures clearlyindicate that thesurface water systemdoes not have anyhydraulic continuityyd au c co t u tywith the deeper freshgroundwater system toa significant level inthe entire deltaicregion.

• However, the upper clay bedcontains at places silt or finesand beds.

• In some areas groundwaterfrom these beds is extractedthrough dug wells and handpumps for very limitedd idomestic purpose.

• The water table of these zonesseems to be either inequilibrium or in effluentrelation with the river system.

• Considering the range of tidal fluctuation and thevery low level of the land in respect of the river waterlevel, it is possible that temporary influent nature maydevelop during high tide period.

• During the high tide if the river water level comesabove the water table the river water starts toabove the water table the river water starts topenetrate the formations.

• The overall hydraulic conductivity of the formationsin the shallow level is very low due to itspredominantly clayey nature and so the extent ofpenetration of tidal water will be very limited.

• During low tide in such areas the micro flow systemalong the river will be reversed and the groundwaterwill start to flow towards the river i. e. effluentcondition develops.

• So the ultimate limit of penetration of the saline riverwater to the over bank formations if any will bewater to the over bank formations, if any, will berestricted within a very short distance, say 200 m to500 m.

• Thus the non-biodegradable pollutant from thechannels and river should not be polluting the shallowlevel groundwater system to any appreciable extent.

58



24-12-2012

4

Management of Groundwater• Generally, in South 24 Parganas district brackish zone

extend down to 180 m below ground level andthereafter is underlain by fresh groundwater.

• At places within 180 m below ground level lenses offresh water bearing aquifers of various dimensionsfresh water bearing aquifers of various dimensionsare present in Raidighi area.

– at Mudipara there is a fresh water bearing aquifer at depthrange of 113 m to 137 m below ground level, from wherethe entire water supply of the village which includesdrinking, domestic and irrigation is taking place

– at Jata the drinking, bathing/drinking and irrigation wellsare present at a depth of 110 m below ground level

– at Derhazar there are two sand lenses, the first one is at adepth of 107 m below ground level and the second one is ata depth of 150 m below ground level, of which the first onewas tapped by irrigation wells few years back but within acouple of years the aquifer turned brackish and had to beabandoned, and

– at Natunchak a fresh water aquifer is present at a depthrange of 128 m to 134 m below ground level which is usedfor domestic/drinking purpose.

• Therefore, it is quite clear that the fresh wateraquifers at shallow depths are variable in dimensionsand may not be sustainable for a long time if usedextensively for all purposes.

• It is advisable that the drinking/domestic wells maybe placed at a different level, more precisely at ap p ydeeper level.

• The farmers may be advised to judiciously use thegroundwater for irrigation purpose since the freshwater they are using at present for irrigation has alimited resource and may become brackish if not usedcarefully.

• Groundwater structures in the area has to beconstructed giving due consideration to the regionalhydrodynamic and hydrochemical scenario.

• Design of tubewells should be carefully done sincethe aquifers are composed of very fine to fine sandand groundwater is somewhat prone to corrosion andand groundwater is somewhat prone to corrosion andencrustation at places.

• Therefore, development and utilization ofgroundwater needs scientific management andplanning.

• During ‘Aila’ the drinking water wells weresalinised due to incursion of saline flood water.

• This salinity is due to flood water entering intothe well through the mouth of the tubewell andnot due to saline water intrusion in the aquifernot due to saline water intrusion in the aquifer.

• This salinity is temporary in nature and caneasily be removed by simple pumping.

• The area is subject to regular flooding duringmonsoon and safe water supplies are critical duringtimes of inundation.

• It is also likely that global climate change is occurringand that flooding will become more severe in thefuture.

• Therefore, it is imperative that drinking water tubewells should be constructed on raised cementedbrick platform in flood shelter or strategic location asemergency preparedness so that the flood distressedpeople can get water from these sources duringflood.

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24-12-2012

5

• The raised platform and the steps (made of bricks withcement lining) leading to the top of the platform should haverailings to avoid any accidents while climbing up and downthe stairs and also while collecting water from the raisedplatform.

• The raised platform should be at least 1.5 – 2 m above thehighest flood level recorded in the area.

• The size of platform should be such that it can accommodatecomfortably at least two persons (one for pumping thetubewell) and the head of the tubewell.

• The platform should be provided with a good drainagesystem.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Vegetable garden

Hand Pump

Waste waterPerforated distributors

CoirGravel Filter

2 -4 mm

5-20 mm

Raised Platform

• The waste water should be disposed in such a manner so that it will notcause any adverse effect to the environment.

• The waste water may be either disposed to nearby vegetable garden or pond.

• Before the final disposal the water should be treated in filter bed (Top – coirfollowed by gravel of 2-4 mm size followed by gravel of 5-20 mm size at thebottom

• For water quality surveillance it isrecommended that water quality testing be doneat regular intervals (at least twice in a year).

• Field measurement– Measurement of pH, TDS and Conductivity

• Eutech Singapore made meter– Cost – Rs 16,600/- including calibrating solution

• Measurement of Chloride

–(500 – 3000 ppm) – Rs. 3,523/- for 100 measurements–(2 – 300 ppm) – Rs. 11,067/- for 400 measurements

• Measurement of Hardness – Rs 105/- for 100 tablets

• Iron 0.25 – 15 ppm –Rs 11,377/- for 300 tests

• Colliform bacteria – Rs. 650 for 10 tests

• The above items may be purchased from

Chemical & Instruments Corporation55, Ezra Street (3rd Floor), Kolkata 700 001Contact person: Mr. Rajendra BhansaliTelephone: 9830046909 (M), 2235-0746 (O), 2235-2180 (O)Fax: 2215-7734

• Water quality measurement can be done using the DREL 2800 CompleteWater Laboratory of HACH (Product No. 29224-00).

• This contains instruments, meters, reagents, apparatus and accessories – allin convenient, rugged carrying cases.

• The product contains a DR 2800 portable spectrophotometer along with thereagents and apparatus necessary to run approximately 100 tests on 20different parameters such as acidity, alkalinity, ammonia, bromine, calcium,chloride, chlorine (free and total), chromium 6+, colour, copper, hardness,iodine iron manganese molybdenum nitrate nitrite oxygen scavengersiodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nitrate, nitrite, oxygen scavengers,ph, phosphate, silica, sulfate, sulfide, suspended solids.

• Cost – Rs. 3, 90,000.00

• The item can be purchased from:Amalgamated Biotech6, Muralidhar Sen LaneKolkata – 700 073Contact Person: Mr. Pratim ChowdhuryTelephone - 2241 5171/4738Fax – 2241 0331

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24-12-2012

6

Objective of Future Research

• The primary objective of any research on groundwatersystem of Sundarbans should be to build a frameworkfor sustainable groundwater development in theSundarbans keeping in mind the subsurfaceh d h i l diti d ibl i t dhydrogeochemical conditions and possible impact dueto sea level rise in the future.

• There could be a two-phase research carried out

• First phase

– Building the conceptual hydrogeological modelof Sundarbans• Understanding the subsurface geology of the area

by drilling and constructing piezometer nests atdifferent depths at 5-6 locations on 4-5 N-Saccessible linesaccessible lines.

• Understand the hydrogeochemical processes of theaquifer system based on major and trace ionchemistry, isotope geochemistry water types,hydrochemical facies and multivariate statisticalanalysis to define the interface between fresh andsaline zones.

• Second phase

– Numerical modeling of the groundwatersystem to find out the recharge areas ofsystem to find out the recharge areas offresh groundwater under different pumpingscenario

61



1

COLLECTIVE ACTION TO REDUCING CLIMATE DISASTER RISKS AND ENHANCING RESILIENCE OF

Presentation on

THE VULNERABLE COASTAL COMMUNITIES AROUND THE SUNDARBAN IN BANGLADESH AND

INDIA (CCDRER)


THE VULNERABLE COASTAL COMMUNITIES AROUND THE SUNDARBAN (CCDRER)

BY

ASM SHAHIDUL HAQUETEAM LEADER, CCDRER PROJECT

BANGLADESH CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES (BCAS)

The Project is funded byThe European Union

Project Implemented byBangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies

Goals of this PresentationGoals of this Presentation


THE VULNERABLE COASTAL COMMUNITIES AROUND THE SUNDARBAN (CCDRER)

1. Provide an overview of BCAS1. Provide an overview of BCAS

2. Provide an overview of the CCDRER project2. Provide an overview of the CCDRER project

3. Impact of CC and Agriculture on Coastal areas around 3. Impact of CC and Agriculture on Coastal areas around SundarbanSundarban

IntroductionIntroduction

ENSURING COLLECTIVE ACTION IN REDUCING CLIMATE DISASTER RISKS, ENHANCING RESILIENCE AND PROVIDING

ADAPTATION TECHNOLOGY TO THE VULNERABLE PEOPLE LIVING AROUND THE SUNDARBANS

Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies(BCAS) is a leading research and policy institute in the non-governmental p y gsector and working as an independent, non-profit, non-government institute since 1986.

BCAS is implementing CCDRER project, funded by the European Union (EU) in selected clusters of Paikgacha Upazilla of Khulna district.

Features of CCDRER projectFeatures of CCDRER project1.1. The project is designed considering Sundarban as The project is designed considering Sundarban as

a whole. a whole. TT

COLLECTIVE ACTION TO REDUCING CLIMATE DISASTER RISKS AND ENHANCING RESILIENCE OF THE

VULNERABLE COASTAL COMMUNITIES AROUND THE SUNDARBAN (CCDRER)

2.2. This project is being implemented in Bangladesh This project is being implemented in Bangladesh and Indian part of Sundarban.and Indian part of Sundarban.

3.3. Proper use of science Proper use of science 4.4. Idea sharing (GO/LGI/NGO/local Idea sharing (GO/LGI/NGO/local

people/stakeholders)people/stakeholders)5.5. DRR and enhancing resiliance.DRR and enhancing resiliance.

62



2

Features of CCDRER projectFeatures of CCDRER project5.5. Proper selection of area and beneficiariesProper selection of area and beneficiaries6.6. Integration local knowledgeIntegration local knowledge



7.7. Awareness/Adaptation/Mitigation/Livelihood Awareness/Adaptation/Mitigation/Livelihood componentscomponents

8.8. Community based collective actionCommunity based collective action9.9. Networking and disseminationNetworking and dissemination10.10. Procedure recordingProcedure recording

Problems of Implementing TransProblems of Implementing Trans--boundary projectsboundary projects

1.1. Policies / rules / lawsPolicies / rules / laws



2.2. Funding process and fund transfer processFunding process and fund transfer process3.3. Human Resource mobilizationHuman Resource mobilization4.4. ReportingReporting5.5. PartnershipPartnership

PROJECT AREA

PROJECT AREA IN BANGLADESH

DistrictDistrict UpazilaUpazila ClusterCluster VillagesVillages Target Target HouseholdHousehold

KhulnaKhulna PaikgachaPaikgacha 11 1515--2020 500500

BagerhatBagerhat MorelganjMorelganj 11 1515--2020 500500

SatkhiraSatkhira ShyamnagarShyamnagar 11 1515--2020 500500

PROJECT AREA IN BANGLADESH

63



3

PROJECT AREA IN INDIA

DistrictDistrict PSPS ClusterCluster VillagesVillages Target HHsTarget HHs

SouthSouth 2424 ParganasParganas PatharpratimaPatharpratima 11 1010 600600

SouthSouth 2424 ParganasParganas BasantiBasanti 11 1212 300300

NorthNorth 2424 ParganasParganas SandeshkhaliSandeshkhali 11 1717 300300

NorthNorth 2424 ParganasParganas HingalganjHingalganj 11 77 300300

TotalTotal 15001500

Project Area In IndiaProject Area In India

Site selection Site selection

Based on Sundarban impact Based on Sundarban impact zonezone

Low impact zone (>10 km)Low impact zone (>10 km)Low impact zone ( 0 km)Low impact zone ( 0 km)Medium impact zone (5Medium impact zone (5--10 km)10 km)High impact zone (0High impact zone (0--5 km)5 km)

Site selection Site selection

Based on Salinity LevelBased on Salinity LevelLow salinityLow salinityMedium salinityMedium salinityHigh salinityHigh salinity

Methodology Methodology

--Reconnaissance studyReconnaissance study

-Census study

-Baseline survey

-PVA

These studies and surveys were designed to collect information to assess present status of the target beneficiary in terms of climate related disaster risks, their adaptation capabilities and dependencies on Sundarban.

TARGET BENEFICIARY GROUPS

TargetTarget groupsgroups NeedsNeeds andand constraintsconstraintsSmallSmall andand marginalmarginalfarmersfarmers

SalineSaline waterwater intrusionintrusion reducedreduced thethe scopescope ofof thetheagriculturalagricultural activitiesactivities withinwithin thethe vicinityvicinity.. TheyTheyareare notnot awareaware aboutabout thethe climateclimate changechange risksrisksvulnerabilitiesvulnerabilities.. TheyThey needneed toto growgrow cropscrops forfor theirtheirfoodfood securitysecurity.. SalineSaline toleranttolerant cropscrops areare requiredrequiredtoto demonstratedemonstrate..

FishermenFishermen fishfishfry/crabfry/crab collectorscollectors

TheThe cyclonecyclone andand tidaltidal surgesurge frequentlyfrequently damagedamagetheirtheir resourcesresources andand reducereduce thethe scopescope ofof theirtheirlivelihoodlivelihood..

Honey/fuelHoney/fuel woodwoodcollectorscollectors

TheyThey areare exploitingexploiting thethe resourceresource ofof thetheSundarbanSundarban forfor theirtheir livelihoodlivelihood.. TheyThey needneed totorehabilitaterehabilitate toto reducereduce thethe naturalnatural forestforest..

LandlessLandless CommunityCommunity TheyThey havehave poorpoor accessaccess toto livelihoodlivelihood andandmigratingmigrating toto urbanurban slumsslums forfor searchingsearching ofof theirtheirlivelihoodlivelihood..

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SUMMARY ACTIONS

1. Proper site selection and beneficiary selection2. Climate change adaptation Forum (Social mobilization and establishingcommunity links)3. Vulnerability and risk assessment (PVA)4. Development of strategy and action plans5. Strengthening Capacity and Resilience of the vulnerable community

WorkshopTrainingTrainingDemonstrationAwareness buildingAlternative livelihoodLow cost and renewable energy optionsPromotion of agro forestry and social forestryWider Partnership and Networking

Monitoring and evaluation

EXPECTED RESULTS

Understanding and awareness raised about climate change impacts anddisaster risks at community and actors levelsGreater engagement of actors and community links strengthened with

actors and stakeholders including LGI and development actorsCommunity capacity to address climate change and climate disasters is

builtResilience in human, social and natural systems is built in general;Climate change adaptation and DRR are mainstreamed into local and

regional development, poverty alleviation, agriculture, fisheries, food andwater security, livelihoods and conservation effortsEnergy efficiency, renewable and energy security promotedNatural resources conservation and community based NRM established

giving DRR, adaptation and mitigation (carbon sinking) benefitsLocal and regional network and partnership strengthened

COASTAL AGRICULTURE AROUND THE SUNDARBAN COASTAL AGRICULTURE AROUND THE SUNDARBAN IN BANGLADESHIN BANGLADESHIN BANGLADESHIN BANGLADESH

COASTAL BELT OF BANGLADESH AND SUNDARBANCOASTAL BELT OF BANGLADESH AND SUNDARBAN

Major problemsMajor problems

IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON COASTAL AGRICULTURE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON COASTAL AGRICULTURE (INCLUDING AREAS AROUND SUNDARBAN(INCLUDING AREAS AROUND SUNDARBAN

1. Tidal surges, Tidal flood and Salinityg2. Water-logging and Drainage Congestion3. Drought, erratic rainfall & salinity

Identifying/ prioritizing the climatic risk facts Identifying/ prioritizing the climatic risk facts affecting crop production systemaffecting crop production system

Very severe risk Severe risk Moderaterisk

Low risk

Salinity, Tidal surges,Drought, Erratic

i f ll Tid l fl d

Temperaturevariation, Salinity,D h Sh

Tidal surges,Heat flow,N d

Cold wave,Soil wetness,F irainfall, Tidal flood,

river erosionDrought, Shortduration of winterseason, water-logging

New weeds,pests &diseases

Fogginess

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5

Recommendations Recommendations

1. Construction of Embankment for Controlling Tidal surges, Tidal flood and Salinity

2. Re-excavation of canal for Removing Drainage Congestion and Creating Irrigation Facilities in Water-g g glogged Areas

3. Promoting Drought & Salt Tolerant Crop Varieties4. Promoting Innovating Farming Practices in Vulnerable

Areasa) Zero Tillage Practiceb) Sorjan System of Croppingc) Promoting salt tolerant crop varieties

Adaptation in Agriculture in Bangladesh� Adaptation measures in the contexts� Promotion of climate resilient crops (salinity tolerant, submergence and drought tolerant varieties) of declining yields in coastal areas and � Short duration and early crops� Change in cropping patterns in the context of changes in by extremes (cyclones, tidal surge, seasons and weather patterns)� Better farm management through new information dissemination,

i i d fl d d l i ) h l i l i imotivation and flood and water logging), technological innovation� Disaster risk management and improving R&D in agriculture

Vulnerable Situation Agricultural Technological Interventions:Suggested crops/Crop Varieties

Drought and Salinity Rice: BR-42, 43 (drought tolerant), BR-47, BR-49, BR-54, BINA-7,8 (salt tolerant)Vegetables: HYV Water Gourd, Bitter Gourd, Cowpea,Cucumber, Red amaranth, Jhinga, Indian spinach.

ADAPTATION TECHNOLOGY FOR ADAPTATION TECHNOLOGY FOR AGRICULTUREAGRICULTURE

Potato/Sweet Potato: Cardinal, Diamont, Sweet Potato-8,9, & Local varietiesPulse crops: Mung-1,2,3,4,5,6, BARI Khesari-6, BINAMung-3, Local Khesari,Wheat: Shourab, Gourab, ProdipOil seed crops: Sharisa-15

Water- logging/Submergence

Rice: Bri Dhan-44, Bri Dhan-51,52,

Tidal surges/Tidal flood BR-51, BR-52

Vulnerable Areas Suggested Innovative PracticesDrought and Salinity Rice: Irrigate with Sweet water,

Pulses & Oil Seeds: Use of CompostVegetables: Use of compost/poultry manure.Potato/Sweet Potato: Use of compost/poultry manure

f / l

INNOVATIVE PRACTICES FOR ADAPTATION INNOVATIVE PRACTICES FOR ADAPTATION IN AGRICULTUREIN AGRICULTURE

Pulse crops: Use of Compost/Poultry manureWheat: Use of Compost/Poultry manureOil seed crops: Use of Compost/Poultry manure

Water- logging/Submergence

Sorjan System of Cropping: Cultivate year roundvegetables, fruits and Spices on Raised beds and cultivatefish in ditches during wet season.Raised Pit System: Cultivate creeper vegetables on Trellisaround the raised Pits formed by water hyacinth.Utilizations of Pond edges/Gher areas: Cultivate yearround vegetables, spices & fruits on pond edges or Gherareas profitably.

Vulnerable Areas Suggested Innovative Practices

Tidal surges/Tidal flood Sorjan System of Cropping: Cultivate year roundvegetables, fruits and Spices on Raised beds and cultivatefish in ditches during wet season.Raised Pit System: Cultivate creeper vegetables on Trellisaround the raised Pits formed by water hyacinth

INNOVATIVE PRACTICES FOR ADAPTATION INNOVATIVE PRACTICES FOR ADAPTATION IN AGRICULTUREIN AGRICULTURE

around the raised Pits formed by water hyacinth.Utilizations of Pond edges/Gher areas: Cultivate yearround vegetables, spices & fruits on pond edges or Gherareas profitably.

Soil wetness/Clay soilareas/Late harvest ofT.Aman

Zero Tillage Practices: Cultivate Potato/Pulses/ Oil seedscrops including vegetables under zero tillage practiceDry Seeding Practice: Rice may be cultivated in char landsand wet soils using sprouted rice seeds.

Floating bed agricultureFloating bed agriculture Home stead garden on raised plinthHome stead garden on raised plinth

6

Adaptive AgricultureAdaptive Agriculture

Thanks for your Thanks for your yykind attentionkind attention

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Sunderban – the issues inAgricultureg

Anshuman Das

Characteristics

• Moderate to high salinity• Low infiltration and poorly aerated soil• Natural drainage system disrupted• Water takes long time to recedeWater takes long time to recede• Water table is low, more sallow pump in recentyears for Boro paddy

• Chemical intensive farming• Small landholding• Poor infrastructure

Some Trends

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Avg 8 yrs

Avg long

2000

2500

TRF

The annual average rainfall of the Sundarbans is 1625 mm. During1990 2000 both the higher and lower rainfall values are more thanthe yearly average.

0Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

0

500

1000

1500

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

TRF

400

500

600

700

800

May

Jun

Jul

A

0

100

200

300

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Aug

Sep

Oct

The economic cost due to this in the last 20 years isestimated to include property damage worth Rupees1,035 million.

There is a significant increase in the settlementfrom1226 km2 to 1666 km , while the availableagricultural land has reduced from 2149 km to 1691 kmagricultural land has reduced from 2149 km to 1691 kmduring the period 2001 2008. This conversion, alongwith the growth of population implies an increasingthreat to food security in ISD.

The study also found a small increase in the aquaculturefarms (particularly in North 24 Parganas) from 603 kmto 649 km.

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Comments from farmers• Very unpredictable rainfall, kharif crop is completely destabilized.• Winters and summers have become warmer in the last 4~5

years. • Intermediary seasons have changed – spring has now

disappeared and autumn is shorter.• Storms are increasing in frequency and intensity. • Cloud cover days have increased, that’s why Infestation of pests

& diseases like ‘Blast’, etc. has been increased. • The expenditure rises in cultivation but the income is not up to

the expectations. “The profit is hardly seen. Yield can be more if I can be in a position to expend more” .

• The introduction of shallow of 15-20 ft. deep is the cause of collapsing of land and crack in the land.

• A southern wind is destroying the panicle of rice during their initiation stage. The flowering stage of paddy cultivation is not uniform.

• The frequency of lightning, thunderbolt is increasing.• The fruit yield of new trees is better but in case of older trees,

there has been a lo ield for the last 3 4 rs

Comments from farmers

there has been a low yield for the last 3-4 yrs.• The fish species are also becoming extinct and the production

is low. • Some crops like Chilli, are completely gone.• Salinity is very high, now it is visible in most of the soil.• Many of them lost land due to erosion or becoming

uncultivable due to salinity.

Some Adaptive Principles• Use of locally adapted plants, animals etc. reduce the need for

high external inputs.• Improving drainage system, mulch farming and cover crop will

help reducing salinity.• Mixed/relay/rotation cropping of plants with different root depth &

structure, resulting in optimal utilization of water & nutrient & higher resilience against environmental stress.

• Multi-storey agro-forestry extend growing season . • Irrigation using surface water. • Biological soil inputs, which enhance capacity of soil to store

water, carbon & nutrients reducing need for synthetic chemicals / soil nutrients.

• Integration of animal, bird, fish, insects, micro organism etc. that reduce over dependency and increase resilience.

• Consider more integrated approach with DRR, infrastructure and livelihood in general; also integrate local knowledge.

Thanks

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Prof.Prof. DewanDewan Ali Ali AhsanAhsan, PhD, PhDChairmanChairman

Department of FisheriesDepartment of FisheriesUniversity of DhakaUniversity of Dhaka

The Sundarbans are the world's largest halophytic mangrove forestsand one of the most biologically productive of all naturalecosystems.

lie across the outer deltas of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghnarivers

At 10,000 sq.km, it forms the largest estuarine mangrove forest inthe world

Description of sundarbans

The adjacent World Heritage sites in India and Bangladesh cover justover a quarter of the area.

It exemplifies the ecological processes of monsoon rain flooding,delta formation, tidal influence and plant colonisation

has a wide range of rare fauna, including the Bengal tiger, estuarinecrocodile and many fish, reptiles and birds.

LAND TENUREOwned by the Government of Bangladesh. Management is by the National Forest Department.

AREAS139,500 ha. The total area of both World 139,500 ha. The total area of both World Heritage sites is 272,510 ha.

Bangladesh: Sundarbans West Wildlife Sanctuary 71,502 haSundarbans South Wildlife Sanctuary 36,790 haSundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuary 31,227 ha

The West and adjoining South Sanctuaries adjoin the Indian National Park.

ALTITUDESea level to 3m at most,

CLIMATEThe climate is humid sub-tropical, tempered by theseaTemperatures 32°C during the monsoon and amaximum around 43°C in Marchmaximum around 43 C in March

Rainfall is heavy and the humidity averages 70-80%due to the nearness of the Bay of Bengal

The mean annual rainfall is about 2000mm80% of the rain falls during the monsoon betweenmid-June and October,

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They contribute to the stabilization of the shoreline and prevention of shore erosion

The mangrove detritus is consumed by the juveniles of a variety of bivalves, shrimps and fishes

Mangroves provide shelter and serve as breeding grounds for a wide variety of aquatic species.

Mangrove provide nesting sites for many shore birds, lizards, turtles other animals.

Natural wall

Nursery ground for 90% of aquatic species of the coast

400 fish species with 20 shrimp, 8 lobster and 7 crab species

Over 110 commercial species of fish

Brackish water and marine species are dominant, freshwater species being found only in the Baleswar River on the eastern edge

Some commercial spT. ilisha

Pompus argenteusHerpodon nehereusPolynemous spP monodon

A rare species of shark,the Ganges river shark Glyphisgangeticus swims the estuaries

Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris)Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)Water monitor lizards (Varanus salvator)

Aq atic mammals incl deAquatic mammals includeGanges river dolphin Platanista gangetica (EN)

Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphin Sousa chinensis

Overfishing

Destructive fishing

Embankment

Indiscriminate PL collection (push and drag nets)

By-catch

This ecosystem has become vulnerable topollution such as oil spillage, heavy metals, andagrochemicals

Bio-indicator species like Dinophysis norvegicapoints to moderately polluted water quality ofthe estuary

Increase in temperature and sea level rise will seriously affect the Sundarbans 'ecosystem and bio-diversity

Shifting phytoplankton biodiversity of sunderbansShifting phytoplankton biodiversity of sunderbans

The rise in sea level and availability of less fresh water particularly during winter when rainfall will be less will cause inland intrusion of saline water.

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Salinity

Sunderbans is the transitional zone between freshwater supplied by rivers and saline water

h d b th B f B l pushed by the Bay of Bengal.

Many fish species and other crustaceans utilize fresh water for spawning and juvenile feeding.

The Hilsa needs less salinity to lay eggs.Forest Forest Area Area Affected by Affected by cyclone SIDRcyclone SIDR

Ocean Acidification

Have impact on biodiversity.

Calcifying organisms such as corals and shell forming organismsare the most likely to be affected.y

An increase in the dissolved CO2 levels, decrease in pH couldalso have an effect on the gas exchange process of aquaticspecies

Might disturb migration of Hilsha

although more realistic studies are needed.

Diseases in Hatchery and gher

Antibiotic s and pesticides

Rainfall problem

Quality seed and feed.

Issues of conflict in Fisheries sector

1. Demographic change (a sharp influx of new-comers perhaps driven by declining economic or ecological well-being in other sectors);

2. Natural resources competition (increased dependence upon the natural resource can heighten competition for space and resources);p );

3. Developmental pressures (as government policy switches from livelihood protection to food production, TRM)

4. Structural injustices (changes in legislation that deny or severely restrict access to a resource by dependent groups in society)

Sustainable fishery management :

If possible mosquito net production should be bannedDoF capacity building for strong monitoring systemStakeholders involvement in policy making and implementing

procedureAwareness building programme ( MEDIA)Awareness building programme ( MEDIA)Gear restriction at down stream so that fish can easily migrate

to upstream

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Sustainable fishery management (contd):

Hilsa is a highly migratory trans-boundary fish ,so jointinitiative ( Bangladesh, India and Myanmar) is essential.

Temporary ban of Jatka and brood hilsha fishing (duringpeak spawning season) should be maintain not only inBangladesh but also in India to maintain the optimum stock

Joint action may be taken to control diseases

Stock assessment

Joint cell for sundarbans ecosystem conservation

More attentions need to be taken for this

fishery livelihoods

Alternative livelihoodAlternative livelihood

E-flow concept

We can divide the country ,restrict the people

We cannot divide theecosystemecosystem

Sundarbans is an uniqueecosystem and Bangladesh –India initiative is essential

Science knows no country

It is for humanity

It is the torch to illuminate the world

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Dr. Aniruddha Mukhopadhyay

Sunderban:Resources and Prospects

Head & Associate Professor,Department of Environmental Science,University of Calcutta

Sunderban: the unique ecosystem

The Sunderban (21° 30 to 22 ° 40 N, 88 ° 05 to 89 ° 55 E) is the largest estuarine mangrove forest in the world spanning about 350 km in width located in West Bengal spanning about 350 km in width located in West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh.Indian Sunderban is a part of the largest prograding Ganges delta formed at the estuarine phase of the Hugli-Matla river systemsWithin this geographical area, forests cover nearly 10,000 sq km, of which about 6,000 sq km are in Bangladesh.

The Sunderban Forest covers an area of 9630 Km2 out of which 4266 Km2 is Mangrove forest.

Due to its beauty and richness Due to its beauty and richness of wildlife, it was recognized as Biosphere Reserve and was declared a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Indian Sunderban: Few facts

Out of total 102 islands, 54 are habitable.Population approximately 45 lakhs.pp y

Sunderban:

In 1495, Bipradas in his poemmentioned about ChandSaudagar’s journey fromBurdwan to Sunderban…

GlimpsesfromHistory

Ain-i-Akbari (1582) in Mughalperiod reported the riverinerevenue collection fromSatgaon which is now inSunderban.

Climate

Relatively high temperature and humidity (>80 %) throughout the year, and well distributed rainfall during the monsoon season.

Average annual maximum temperature is around 35°C. The summer extends from middle of March to middle of June and winter from December to February .

Average annual rainfall is 1920 mm.

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Biodiversity

Sunderbans with rich floral and faunal diversity,forms a productive and protective margin forcoastal West Bengal and Bangladesh.

Very unique and rich ecological diversitycomprising : – 334 species of plants, 49 species ofmammals, 400 species of fish, 320 species of birds,53 species of reptiles, 11 amphibian species; alongwith numerous invertebrates, phytoplankton, fungi,bacteria, zooplankton, benthic invertebrates,molluscs.

Phytoplanktons

Major sink of atmospheric CO2

Constitute the foundation of marine and estuarine food web

PHYTOP

Efficient adsorption of nutrients

Bio-indicator of climate change

PLANKTON

a) Bacteriastrum spb) Coscinodiscus spc) Chaetocerocurvesetusd) Bacteriastrumhyalinume) Closteriumf) Asteronella) G t h

Few representative phytoplankton taxa in Sunderban estuary

g) Grammatophoramarinah) Nitzschia sp i)Navicula penataj) Gyrosigma baticumk) Anabaena l) Asterionellopsisgracilism) Dinophysis norvegican) Polykrikos schwartzil

(Ref: Manna et. al., 2010)

•Highly diverse algal f lora ranging from thefreshwater to marine environments, though very

Algal Biodiversity

detai led study has not been conducted yet.•Naskar et al. (2004), l isted 150 species including15 species of Rhodophyceae and 2 species ofPhaeophyceae.•From different short term patchy studies,presence of Cyanophyceae, Chlorophyceae,Diatoms, Rhodophyceae , Phaeophyceae andChrysophyceae are reported.

(Ref:Gopal and Chauhan, 2006)

Algal Biodiversity

Botrychia, Catenella and Caloglossa form a turfycovering on mangrove tree trunks andpneumatophores.

At a lower level on the same trees species ofAt a lower level on the same trees, species ofCaloglossa occur along with Chaetomorpha andRhizoclonium.

Species of Lyngbya, Oscillatoria and Microcoleusare common on pneumatophores and on the mud(Mandal and Naskar, 1994).


Microbial biodiversity

Sunderban Mangrove ecosystem ideally situated at theinter-phase between the terrestrial and marineenvironment supports a rich and diverse group ofmicroorganisms.

(Ref: Das et. al.,2006)

Bacteria

ActinomycetesFungi

Mineral cycle

Breakdown oforganic matter

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Faunal Biodiversity

Crustaceans (240 species)

• Odonates and dipterans are dominant

Insects (201 species)

Invertebrates Molluscs (143 aspecies)

Annelids (78 species)

Nematodes (68 species)

Protozoans (104 species)

Ref:(Chaudhuri and Choudhury, 1994).

Faunal Biodiversity

The fish fauna of the Bangladesh Sunderban includes 53pelagic and 124 demersal species (Sarker,1989; Rainboth,1991). Of these, over 120 species have been recorded in

i l t h (S id ti k d H i 1983) Th I di

FISH

commercial catches (Seidensticker and Hai, 1983). The IndianSunderban supports a similar number of species (165 species;Sanyal, 1999)

Presence of a number of ornamental fish resources in IndianSunderbans. (Mandal et. al.,2012)

Few common fish species

Harpodon nehereusTrichiurus savalaSetipinna sp.Pampus sp.Sardinella sp.Salar sp.pPangasius pangasius Lates calcariferHilsa (Tenualosa) ilishaPomadasys hastaPolynemus sp.Coilia sp.Periopthalmus sp.Boleopthalmus sp.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Among snakes, the Family Boidaeis the largest followed by Hydrophidae Elapidae, Typhlopidae and Viperidae.

Noteworthy species are the King Cobra (Ophiophagus Hannah), Indian spectacled cobra (Naja

j ) d I di th (P th naja) and Indian python (Pythonmolurus).

Banded krait (Bungarusfasciatus), Common krait ((Bungarus caeruleus) Russells Viper (Daboia russelii)

Estuarine Crocodiles(Crocodilusporosus) are also very common.


Reptiles and Amphibians

Among various turtles and tortoises, six species are nearly extinct or threatened.Of the four marine turtles, the Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), though endangered, is the most abundant.The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is rare due to excessive fishing, while the loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) are not common.(Hussain and Acharya, 1994).The river terrapin (Batagur baska) and three of the 14 species of lizards and monitors are also endangered.


Birds

Several species of kingfishers (including brown-winged and stork-billed kingfishers, Pelargopsis amauropterus and P. capensis, respectively) and the magnificent white-bellied sea-eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)are quite common, as are many herons, egrets, storks, sandpipers, whimbrels, curlews and other waders.There are also many species of gulls and terns, especially along the coast and the larger waterways.


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The greyheaded fish eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus) and Pallas’s fish-eagle (Haliaeetusleucoryphus) are quite rare.

Apart from the species particularly associated with the sea and

Birds

associated with the sea and wetlands, there are woodpeckers,barbets, shrikes, drongos, mynahs, minivets, babblers and many others(Salter, 1984), along with a number of migratory birds.


Mammalian Biodiversity

Among 40 species the only primate is the rhesus macaque (Macacamulatta) which still occurs in good numbers, but its population is declining gradually.As per 2004 census, the tiger population in Indian Sunderban is population in Indian Sunderban is around 274.Spotted deer (Cervus axis) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) occur in large numbers. Besides three species of otters, there are wild cats (Felisbengalensis, F. chaus and F. viverrina) and the Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica).

Floral Biodiversity

SpeciesFlowering Plants 105Algae 150Lichens 32

In India part if Sunderban, the total vascular flora (including mangrove associates) is estimated at 100 species

ti 34 f ili representing 34 families and 57 genera, comprises of 30 species of trees, 32 shrubs, and the rest are herbs, grasses, sedges and ferns.

Forest TypesTidal Swamp ForestsSaline Water Type Mixed ForestsBrackish Water Type Mixed Forests

Palm Swamp Type Forests

Mangrove Biodiversity

The large spatial andtemporal variability inhydrological regimes (bothfreshwater inflows and thetides), topography andtexture of the substratum,

True Mangrove species = 26 Mangrove associates = 29 Back mangrove species= 29

texture of the substratum,the salinity, and theirinteractions, result in veryhigh habitat heterogeneityin the mangroveecosystems, and therebyensure an equally diversebiodiversity.

In general, the northern boundary and new depositions arecharacterized by Baen (Avicennia marina, A. alba, A.officinalis) flanked by foreshore grassland of Porteresiacoarctata (Dhani grass).

Baen is gradually replaced by Genwa (Excoecariaagallocha) and then Goran (Ceriops spp.).

The southern and eastern associates include Garjan

Mangrove Biodiversity

j(Rhizophora spp.), Kankra (Bruguiera spp.), and fewpatches of Sundari (Heritiera fomes ).

Hental (Phoenix paludosa) forest exists in relatively highland and compact soil.

Dhundul (Xylocarpus granatum), Passur (Xylocarpusmekongensis) and Nypa fruticans (Golpata) palm swampsare extremely limited.

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Food chain in the mangrove ecosystem in Sunderbans

(Ref: Banerjee, 1998)

Threats to biodiversity

Climate change: Temperature is showing an increasing trend, as well as precipitationVariability in the climatic parameters has been increasedGrowing human population: Consequently Growing human population: Consequently overexploitation of both timber and fauna, and conversion of the cleared land to agriculture and aquaculture.Hydrological factorsMan-animal conflictPollution from agrochemicals, industrial wastes

Factors affecting biodiversity in mangroves

(Ref: Gopal and Chauhan, 2006)

Threatened fauna of Sunderbans:Mammalia

Panthera tigris tigris (Royal Bengal Tiger)Felis bengalensis (Leopard Cat)Felis viverrina (Fishing Cat)Platanista gangetica(Gangetic Dolphin)Orcaela brevirostris (Irrawady Dolphin)Neophocaena phocaenoides (Little Indian Porpoise)


Threatened fauna of Sunderbans:Reptilia

Crocodylus porosus (Estuarine Crocodile)Lepidochelys olivacea (Olive Ridley Turtle)Batagur baska (Batagur Turtle)Lissemys punctata (Indian Flapshelled Turtle)p )Trionyx gangeticus (Indian Softshelled Turtle)Kachuga tecta (Indian Tent Turtle)Varanus bengalensis (Common Indian Monitor)Varanus salvator (Water Monitor)Python morulus (Indian Rock Python)


Threatened fauna of Sunderbans: Aves

Ardea goliath (Great Goliath Heron)

Pelecanus phillippensis (Dalmatian Pelican)

Leptotilos duius (Lesser AdjutantStork)


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Effect of Climate change on Sunderbanbiodiversity Effect of Climate change on Planktons

Salinization of land

Alteration of pH

Physio-chemical variation of ambient

aquatic phase

Increased salinity of water bodies

Increase in temperature

Invasion of Stenohaline species

Change in Plankton community

Nekton and benthic molluscancommunity and fishery affected

Relationship between climate change and hydro-meteorology

GHG increase

Increase in radiative forcings

Increase in temperature

Snow and Ice melt

Sea level rise

Storm surge

Salinity intrusion

Backwater effect by tidal flowtemperature

Changes in precipitation & ET

Changes in soil moisture

Changes in soil groundwater

Sea level rise

Changes in drought

Changes in run-off

by tidal flow

Changes in flood

Changes in river flow

(Ref: Mukherjee, 2010)

Climate change effect

Sea level rise : 1990-2000: 3.14mm/ year Sea level rise : 2000-2009: 17.8mm/ yearNet land loss: 2000-2009: 65 sq. km.26% increase of high to very high intensity cyclones: 1881-2001

(Ref: WWF)

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Changing Pattern in Distribution of Sundriand Gewa from 1992 to 2001


Changing Pattern in Distribution of Goran and Gewa from 1992 to 2001


Impact on tigers(In Bangladesh region)

Sea level rise (cm)

(baseline is year 2000 )

High tiger abundance

habitat(km2)

Mediumtiger

abundance habitat(km2)

Low tiger abundance

habitat(km2)

Total tiger habitat(km2)

0 574 1,445 2,155 4,175

4 574 1,442 2,153 4,169

8 551 1,352 2,117 4,021

12 527 1,229 1,941 3,697

16 458 1,011 1,477 2,946

20 309 622 840 1,771

24 142 236 296 674

28 37 74 48 159


Bio prospecting: Use of ‘Mother Nature’

Exploration, extraction and screening Indigenous and folklore knowledge for commercially valuable

sssss Sunderban:Endless resources

Shows highly ecological,chemical and biologicaldiversity starting from

resourcesHighly significant for pharmaceutical and medicinal fieldsBoost up the economicscenario

microorganisms to highlyevolved vertebrates, thusproving us huge resources.

Provides both goods( foodsand raw materials) anddiverse services .

Services of the resources from Sunderban widely used for survival and well-being

ProvisioningServices

• Food, timber, fiber

Regulating Services

• Regulation of climate & natural

Cultural Services

• Recreational, aesthetic, spiritual

Supporting services

• Soil formation

• Photosynthesis• Building

materials

• Pharmaceutical compounds

natural hazards

• Regulation of water quality

• Fixation of atmospheric carbon

pbenefits

• Coastal tourism

• Photosynthesis

• Nutrient cycling

• Commercial fisheries

Mangroves

Direct useFoodFodderTimberFirewood

Indirect useShoreline/riverbanks protectionFlood and flow control Habitat

CharcoalFisheriesMedicinesBiocidesConstruction materials

Prevention of saline water intrusionPhytoremediationMaintenance of biodiversityNutrient retention

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Medicinal use of some mangrovesEthno medicinal knowledge

Acnthus ilicifolius

Aegiceras corniculatum

Avicennia alba

aphrodisiac, asthma, blood purifier, (Fr), diabetes, diuretic, dyspepsia, hepatitis, leprosy(Fr, L, R) neuralgia, paralysis, ringworms, rheumatism, skin diseases, snake bites,stomach pains, (B, Fr, L).

asthma, diabetes, rheumatism, (L,B)

antifertililty, skin diseases, tumors, ulcers, (Resin)

Avicennia marinaAvicennia officinalisBruguiera gymnorhizaCeriops tagal

Excoecaria agallocha

(Resin).rheumatism, small pox, ulcers, (St).

aphrodisiac, diuretic, hepatitis, (Fr, L), leprosy, (B).eye diseases, (Fr).

stops hemorrhages, (B).

epilepsy, (L, Sap), conjunctivitis, dermatitis, haematuria, leprosy, (L, Sap, St), purgative,(L, sap), toothache, (Sap).

(Ref: Bandaranayake, 1998)

Medicinal use of some mangrovesEthno medicinal knowledge

Heritiera littoralis

Nypa fruiticans

Rhizophora apiculata

diarrhea (St).

asthma, diabetes, leprosy, rheumatism, snake bite, (L, Fr).

antiemetic, antiseptic, diarrhea, h i (B) h i i (B Fl

p p

Sonneratia caseolaris

Xylocarpus granatum

haemostatic, (B), hepatitis, (B, Fl, Fr, L), stops bleeding, typhoid, (B).

bleeding, hemorrhages, piles, sprain poultices, (Fr).

cholera, fever, malaria, (B).

(Ref: Bandaranayake, 1998)

Chemical use of mangroves:

The bark of various mangrove species is used intannin production.

Ceriops decandra is a major source of tanninwhile the barks of other species such as Bruguieragymnorrhiza and Xylocarpus granatum also havea high tannin content.

Xylocarpus granatum fruits are also used intanning.

(Ref: Rahaman,2000)

Several novel compounds :useful for medicinal and agricultural purposes

Class of Chemical

Compound Source biological activity

Benzoquinones O-methylembelin Aegicerascorniculatum

toxic to fish, toxic to the fungi pythiumultimum

Napthoforans Avicennia marina phytoalexins

Diterpenes Gibberellin A3Gibberellin A7

Bruguiera gymnorhiza plant growth hormones

Diterpenes Gibberellin A4Gibberellin A9

Rhizophora mucronata plant growth hormones

Alkaloids Benzoxazolin-2-one Acanthus illicifolius Antitumor activity

( Ref: Miles et. al., 1999)

Microbial uses

Naturally occurring petroleum degrading aerobic bacteria .Bioactive metabolite from the selected fungal isolates and their antimicrobial activity (Radhakrishnan et. Al.,2011)Cyanobacteria isolated from the intertidal soil of Sunderbansexhibits antimicrobial compunds (Pramanik and mukherjee,2011)Marine actinomycetes constitute an important and potential source of novel bioactive compounds (Colwell et. Al.,1992)The first document on antibiotic-producing marine bacteria was by Rosenfeld and Zobell62. Since then, there are several reports of antibiotic-producing marine bacteria.(Burgess et. Al., 1999)

Combating salinity increase

Presence of differentHalophilic andHalotolerant species.

Few salt tolerant ricestrains in Sunderbans:DudheswarMatla

Combating climatechange: Resurgence oflocal salt tolerant ricestrains specially in post-aila scenario.

MatlaKarpur dhuliPatnai 23Vaidheli

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Potential Bio-active compounds and Secondary metabolites:Medicinal and pharmaceutical interface

Several marine researches reported about various Bio-activecompounds and metabolites from Sponges, Cnidarians, Molluscs.

Since 1970 about 18000 marine natural products have beenisolated, of which 25% are from algae, 33% from sponges, 18%from Cnidarians and 24% from other marine organisms likeascidians, molluscs, echinoderms, bryozoans (Bhakuni and Rawat,ascidians, molluscs, echinoderms, bryozoans (Bhakuni and Rawat,2005)

These are the most virgin areas of research in sunderban whichwill surely explore some magnificent results with a new dimensionin drug discovery.

Many of them can be used as a Bio indicator of pollution andclimate change.

(Ref: Sarkar, 2011)


Marine AlgaeDianoflagellates

Produces Ciguatoxin300 times more toxic

than Tetradotoxinproduced by Pufferfish

Opens sodium channels in cell

membrane

Affecting mainly neuronal, cardiac and gastrointestinal tissues

Antioxidant against pesticide

toxicity

(Ref: Sarkar, 2011)


Various fish species are used to extract oils rich inomega-3-fatty acids as well as toxins used fordifferent purposes.

Diverse algal population can be served both as asource of nutrition and pharmacologicallyimportant bioactive molecules.

Fisheries: An economic overview

Crustaceans account for the largest proportion of animal biomass, with an estimated annual harvest of 40 million kilograms of fiddler crabs and 100 million kilograms of mud crabs besides a kilograms of mud crabs besides a considerable harvest of shrimps, prawns and lobsters.

Marine aquarium trade is rapidly expanding and there is a growing demand for tropical ornamental fishes in the international market.

Fisheries along with a new dimension in sea food

The Sunderban supports very rich estuarine and coastal marine fisheries. It is the most important non-forestry product of the forest. The shallow water, creeks, small and big rivers crossing mangrove forests supports many species of fish.

S i h Hil h ili h Some species such as Hilsha ilisha areexclusively marine but travel through estuaries to the upstream areas for breeding and then return to the sea.

Shrimps and prawns constitute the most important fishery of the zone. The most important crustaceans’ species are Penaeus mondon and Macrobarachium rosenbergi.

Honey and bee wax

Although honey and bees-wax are universal non-forestproducts, in the Sunderbans, these are included in the non-wood forest products and treated with particularimportance with respect to their market and food value.

•Aegiceras corniculatum and•Aegiceras corniculatum andCeriops decandra, these twospecies are favored by the honey-bee Apis dorsata.

•Honey made from Aegiceras is ofhigh quality and has a distinctiveflavor.

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SunderbanMangroveEcosystem:

• Documentation

• Diversity and Stability

• Ecology

Thrust Areas• Behaviour/ Ethology

• Bioprospecting and Adaptation Studies

Summary

Highly ecological, chemical and

biologicaldiversity: needs

economicvaluation

SunderbanMonitoring the

impact of climate change

Communityparticipation

Integrated coastal and marine

management

ThankYYou

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PUBLIC HEALTH IN SUNDARBANSIssues and way forward

Soumitra [email protected]

EXISTING SCENARIO

There are 19 Blocks in Sundarban.6 (Gosaba, Hingalgunj, Patharpratima, Sandeshkhali II, Namkhana, Kultali) are extremely inaccessible and lack even the most basic facilities. 8 (Sagar, Jaynagar II, Canning II, Basanti, Minakhan, Kakdwip, Mathurapur II, Sandeshkhali I) are remote and severely underdeveloped. Remaining 5 (Hasnabad, Canning I, Joynagar I, Mathurapur I and Haroa) are in main land with greater accessibility and somewhat better living conditions.

Consisting of 102 islands on the Indian side, of which 46 are forested and the rest variably inhabited. The Sundarban delta is home of about 4 million people.

Inhabitants face challenges of geo-climatic hazards, poor infrastructure facilities and uncertainties of livelihood leading to chronic poverty – all these contribute to increased vulnerability to health risks.

84% patients received treatment from qualified or non qualified doctors. The remaining 16% did not, mostly because of poverty. 77% ‘poorest of the poor’ patients chose not to seek treatment compared to 47 % of the average income families.

HEALTH SCENARIO

Excessive dependence on unqualified RMPs/Quacks is directly related to non-availability of quality services (and at affordable price) and geographical barriers. At least 65% patients are treated by untrained rural practitioners (State average is around 53%).

Source: Sabuj Sangha (2012), study of 2 blocks, Patharpratima and Gosaba

There are 838 Sub Centers (SCs) in the region. 16% (134) are non-functionalIn Gosaba and Patharpratima Blocks on an average1 PHC is catering to the health needs of 110,000 people.

HEALTH FACILITIES

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HR and service delivery issues in higher facilitiesThe majority of PHCs and BPHCs are understaffedLimited electricity supplyPoorly managed

ISSUES WITH GOVT. HEALTH SERVICES

Resulting in underperformance and underutilization of existing facilities. Absenteeism and unaccountability cripples credibility and reliability of curative services offered by Govt.

Women and children are particularly vulnerable.For delivery a woman is to go thought

Average travel of 8 Kms Inaccessible terrain - needs boats, van rickshaws etc.

MOST VULNERABLE GROUPS

4 – 5 hours time Physical strain. The travel is a nightmare after dusk, and anytime during the monsoons.

Institutional deliveries situation in Sundarbans –

WB (1996 to 2006) – from 40.1% to 43.1% WB – Rural (2007-08) – 43.2%

HEALTH INDICATORS

( )North 24 Parganas (2007-08) – 43.4%South 24 Parganas (2007-08) – 36.4%Sundarbans (2007-08) – 29%

IMR ??MMR ??Geriatric care??ICDS ??

More than 50% children (0-3 years) are malnourished. Colostrums feeding from within one hour of childbirth is practiced by 45% mothers. Exclusive Breast Feeding for first 6 months is practiced by only 35% mothers. Significant number of malnourished children h i ll ff f di h i t t t chronically suffer from diarrhea or respiratory tract

infections or skin rash and receive partial symptomatic treatment mainly from local quacks. Child vaccination against common dangerous infections is not yet ‘universal’ subject to availability of vacancies in the Sub Centers. In Sundarbans, the rate of absolute non-coverage is as high as 7% (WB 3%).

WHO ARE PROVIDING THE HEALTH SERVICES?People depend on RMPs / Quacks, but why?

They are available within 1 km from any household in the Sundarbans. They are readily available at any time for home visits, ‘chamber’ consultancy, medicines, ‘indoor’ treatment (diarrhea, dehydration, abortions, abscess drainage, ( , y , , g ,etc). Most of the service is rendered on credit, and the entire family pays for the whole service once or twice a year. They are well connected to laboratories/investigation centers, as well as with Nursing Homes, in distant towns. They accompany patients to higher treatment centers, when needed. RMPs/quacks represent a ‘friendly neighborhood’.

WASH ISSUES

22% of 31210 families do not have sanitary toilet facilities in Patharpratima BlockAt any given point of time 5% tube wells are non-functional6% of all diseases are diarrhoea (WHO 2006)6% of all diseases are diarrhoea (WHO, 2006)High rate of hookworm infestation – a major contributor to anemiaPoor menstrual hygiene practices

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WAY FORWARD

Multi pronged strategy needed Quick fix Vs. Long term interventionsTrans boundary initiative

IMMEDIATE

Training for Dais to support ‘home delivery’Improvement in quality of services through RMPsStrengthening of ASHA initiative of Govt.Advocacy with PRI to provide 1 hand pump for every

l d i il i h ll f ili250 people and sanitary toilets with all familiesStrategic communication planning for home based diarrhoea managementEnsuring 100% immunisation to reduce infant deaths related to measles (will be a part of ASHA initiative but Govt. to ensure service delivery)Increase ANC coverage to reduce maternal mortality

LONG-TERM

Advocacy with Govt. to improve institutional health servicesAdvocacy with PRI to undertake greater role in public health sphereCommunity managed communication for effective y gbehaviour changeSupporting communities to improve their livelihood systemSupport to improve nutrition of the mother and childSupport to improve drinking water and sanitary toilet facilitiesMaking all stakeholders aware of climate change issues and its impact

RESEARCH

Community based ground water conservationPPP model for critical curative careEffective communication on preventive health issues Livelihood adaptation in sync with the climate change

Thank you

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Communities’ Observations and Disaster Perceptions in anAge of Climate Change : A Case Study from two Coastal

Villages, Shaymnagar, Satkhira, Bangladesh

M. Mokhlesur RahmanCenter for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS),

Bangladesh

CNRS, House 19/B, Road 16, Block-B, Banani, Dhaka, Bangladesh

[email protected]

Trans boundary Meeting on Sundarbans3-6 October 2012

Kolkata, India

Village 1: FultalaVillage 2: Chakbara

Where are the Study villages?

Village 1:

To Bay of Bengal

S u n d e r b a n s

• Mainland, less exposed to hazards• Rice farming is major livelihoods• Less dependence on Sundarbans• Poor subsists on wage laboring, earth cutting, seasonal fishing, van pulling, out migration• Less affected by the Cyclone Aila

Village 2:• Island like setting, more exposed to hazards• Shrimp farming village• Heavily dependent on Sundarbans, rivers and lower estuary for livelihoods• Severely affected by the Cyclone Aila

Local environmental changes: Fultala village

Before 1980 – all village canals were wide and retained much freshwater. Canals and beels for freshwater fish, rice and veg. High local fish availability, wide CPR bases

(Rainfall pattern relatively predictable seasonally, crop farming synchronized with local weather)

1981 to 2009 –some rice paddies converted to shrimp ghers, public roadside borrow pits and canals grabbed and converted to shrimp farms, fish ponds, croplands and settlements. CPR base reduced and lost

(Last 10 years - erratic rainfall, prolognd droughts, difficult for farmers to plan, frequent crop loss/damage)

Post Aila (2009)- salinisation of ponds/ beels/ croplands impacted fish, shrimps, crop, veg. production on the western side of the village

(Decline in rice and veg. production, loss of trees and drop in freshwater fish and other biota – soil saline, low rains, salinity not

washed out)

Local environmental changes: Chakbara villageBefore 1990• Only aman rice farmed, freshwater fish in low lying beels open for all (CPRs)• Rice farming, fishing and Sundarbans resources - livelihood basis for allDuring 1990 - 2009• Salt water shrimp farming covered entire village lands replaced rice farming and freshwater fish and loss of CPR bases• Better off shrimp farmers grabbed lands, weakened dykes, dyke failure, overuse of NRs, changes in local social-ecological systems After Cyclone Aila -2009• Prolonged saline water inundation polluted lands , ponds, ghersdamaged houses, killed livestock, trees, freshwater fish , shrimps • Shrimp farming disrupted and stopped for over 2 years, no cultivation - further pressure on NR base - severe humanitarian crises

Community views on weatherNo specific awareness of CC; main reference is to weather and Understanding varies by occupation, political status, gender…

Fishers: Increased cyclones/ rough sea weather (disrupt fishing efforts- loss of income), cyclone induced siltation (degrades fish habitats, fish stock shifted), drought (affect fish migration and breeding –less fish)

Rice farmers: Increased drought (crop damage), erratic rainfall (crop damage), salinity (crop loss), lack of freshwater (hampers boro rice farming)

Shrimp farmers: high temperature & drought (increased salinity -kills whitefish), heavy rains/ flooding (farmed shrimp escaped, gher ecology degraded and high mortality of stocked shrimps)

Community views on weather

Women: drought (more irrigation, less shrimp PL), salinity (pollution of freshwater ponds – need more time to fetch water), intense heavy rainfall (less demand of shrimp PL) Cyclone Aila (live on embankment, loss of mollusks, loss of varieties of wild food items),

Honey collectors: cyclone killed bees, increased drought led to less flowering and thus less honey

Fish /shrimp traders : heavy rainfall /cyclones damaged fish/ shrimp ghers - lead to poor landing ; prolonged drought lead to less catch from Sundarbans – less fish landing ; warmer weather, need more ice – higher costs –less income

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How do local people express their views?

• No clear reference to CC. More combination of weather and non-weather stressors. Examples:

• Reduced rains, drought and salinity cause declining freshwater fish (part-weather stressor) - but illegal grabbing and converting canals/ rivers to crop lands/ fish-shrimp ponds (non

th t ) j d t f h t fi h–weather stressor )cause major damage to freshwater fish• Erratic rains, prolonged drought and salinity hamper rice

production (weather stressor) - while lack of freshwater due to conversion of canals/ rivers (non weather stressor) cause further impacts on rice farming

• Reduced rains, increased temperature (weather stressor) affect fish biology, lead to declining fisheries - but poor management of Sundarbans fisheries including its 3 sanctuaries (non-weather stressor) accelerate decline in fisheries production and biodiversity

How do local people express their views (Contd.)?

• Cyclone-borne siltation degraded fish habitats in upper Sundarbans (weather stressor)- while widespread use of harmful gears downstream (non-weather stressor) affected fish migration and spawning causing more damage to Sundarbans fisheries

• Dyke failure, saline water inundation caused by cyclone/ storm surges/ high tides (part-weather stressor) – but poor maintenance (non-weather stressor) weakened dykes

• Dyke failure and saline water inundation due to cyclone s/surges caused instant damage to resources (part-weather stressor) – but more than one year to fix dykes (non-weather stressor) resulting in more damage owing to prolonged exposure to hazards

Perceived seasonal changes Seasons Temper

atureRainfall Visibility

of the Communities’ Remarks

Summer (mid Apr – mid Jun)

, Higher temp. low, erratic rains, high variability, high visibility, extended

Monsoon (mid Jun-mid Aug)

, Warmer, late, reduced, intense/ erratic rains, annual variability, low visibilityJun mid Aug) rains, annual variability, low visibility

Autumn (mid Aug-mid Oct)

, Higher temp, warmer, increased/ erratic rains, very low visibility

Dewey (mid Oct-mid Dec)

, Higher temp., warmer than before, rainfall erratic, very low visibility

Winter (mid Dec-mid Feb

Warmer , short/intense cold spells, reduced rains, visible, shortened

Spring (mid Feb- mid Apr)

Higher temp, reduced rains, very low visibility of the season

= Increased (high); = Increased (low), = Decreased (high); = Decreased (low), = erratic pattern

Sea going fishers

Shrimp/ rice farmers

Shrimp farmers

Women (farming)

Rice farmers

hata

ffectthelivelihoo

dsof

ups(pa

irwiserank

ing)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Crab collectors

Honey collector/Mowali

River/ forest fishers

Women (PL catch)

Increased temperature Prolonged droughtIntense rainfall/ flooding Frequent rough sea conditionsCyclone/ storm surge Increased water level in high tidesIncreased soil/ water salinity

Clim

aterelatedstressorsth

diffe

rent

occupa

tiona

lgrou

Multiplicity of CC related disasters on fisheriesYear CC threats Impacts2007 - November - Super cyclone Sidr Over 80% fish/shrimp ghers damaged and fishing

operations disrupted 2008 - September - Abnormally high tide/

coastal flooding Breached and overtopped coastal dykes and damaged many fish./shrimp ponds/ghers

2009 - May - Cyclone Aila with high surge water

Damaged 80-100% fish/shrimp ponds/ ghers and affected fishing operations

2009 - August - Intense rain-based Flooded many fish/shrimp ponds/ghersgflooding

y p p g

2009 - October - Post monsoon drought Heat stress affected shrimps 2010 - April-June - Pre monsoon drought High temperature affected pond/ gher ecology, heat stress

affected stocked shrimps2011 - August - Intense heavy rain-

based flooding for 2 weeks

Over 80% ponds/ghers flooded and fish /shrimps escaped and died due to sudden fluctuations of pond/gher ecology

2012 - January - Severe cold spell with dense fogs (10 days)

Affected gher ecology, increase disease susceptibility of shrimp/fish, inhibit fish/shrimps growth, high PL mortality, loss of some dyke crops

F fl Hi h li it i L fi h i i

Affect wider communities

Sh t f

Affect Honey collectors (mowalies)

Affect fishers/ crab/shrimpPL collectors

Affect crop farmers

Affect shrimp farmers

Reduced monsoon rains/ drier monsoon

Impact of reduced rains on lives and livelihoods of coastal communities (Source: FGD with fishers, farmers, shrimp farmers, mowalies, Shamanagar, Satkhira)

Higher mortality of white fish in ghers

Increased risks, Low profits

Higher salinity in ghers/fields

Fewer flowersin trees

Poor catch and low biodiversity

Affect crop farming

Low or no yield of crops

Higher salinity inghers

Low fish migrationand spawning

Less availability of fish, crabs, PL

Less honey production

Low income /high poverty

Fewer bees and fewer hives

Shortage offreshwater

Lack of drinking water

Diseases, incur treatment costs

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Concluding Remarks Concluding Remarks • A few villagers mention global warming and CC but

not aware what it is – causes and consequences• Previous development impacts have complicated

how to make CC impact assessment• There are high spatial variability even within small

coastal area with regard to livelihoods disaster andcoastal area with regard to livelihoods, disaster andCC issues

• Climate resilience (transformative adaptation)means better homes, embankments, drainage,freshwater availability, good governance, etc.

• Villagers considered adaptive measures as meansto cope with immediate and seasonal watershortages, salinity, flooding, cyclones and the likerather than as potential packages of measures todeal with longer term changes in climate

Concluding remarksConcluding remarks• Ecosystems based approach (integrated NRM

DRR CCA) with nested CBOs with effectivenetworking and consensus building may open upconduits for large ecosystems like “Sundarbans”management

• There are some good NRM DRR and CCA• There are some good NRM, DRR and CCAinitiatives in Bangladesh (FD, DoF, DAE, DoE,CDMP, NGOs) but are sporadic and disconnected

• Trans boundary measures are a necessarycondition for success of some types of localadaptation (e.g. uncertainty of future upstreamwater supplies threatens stability of localadaptation, technology and data sharing, jointmanagement, etc.)

Thanks from the climate hotspot- Munshigonj, Shaymnagar, Satkhira, Bangladesh

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Jude HenriquesInternational Consultant

Managing Disasters in Sundarbans

International ConsultantCaritas Germany

Sundarbans4 October 2012

Events, Hazards and Disasters• Event: A natural event, whether geological, climatological, etc., is

simply a natural occurrence• Floods, cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides etc are part of

the natural world we live in. Their occurrence is inevitable. Theseevents can wreak havoc on the natural environment.

• Hazard: Is a natural event that has the potential to cause danger tohuman life or property.

• Disaster: A serious disruption of the functioning of a communityor a society causing widespread human, material, economic orenvironmental losses which exceed the ability of the affectedcommunity or society to cope using its own resources.

• Disaster results from:• the combination of hazards,• conditions of vulnerability and• insufficient capacity or measures to reduce the potential negative

consequences of risk.

Disaster Crunch Model

Vulnerability

CapacityDisaster = Hazard x

y

CyclonesTropical cyclones can produce:

– extremely powerful winds– torrential rain,– high waves and– damaging storm surges.

North Indian Ocean – Names of cyclonesContributingNations

List 1 List 2 List 3 List 4 List 5 List 6 List 7 List 8

Bangladesh Onil Ogni Nisha Giri Helen Chapala Ockhi FaniIndia Agni Akash Bijli Jal Leher Megh Sagar VayuMaldives Hibaru Gonu Aila Keila Madi Roanu Makunu HikaaMyanmar Pyarr Yemyin Phyan Thane Na nauk Kyant Daye KyarrOman Baaz Sidr Ward Mujan Hudhud Nada Luban MahaPakistan Fanoos Nargis Laila Nilam Nilofar Vardah Titli BulbulSri Lanka Mala Rashmi Bandu Mahasen Priya Asiri Gigum SobaThailand Mukda Khai Muk Phet Phailin Komen Mora Phethai Amphan

India Meteorological DepartmentTropical Cyclone Intensity Scale

Category Sustained winds

Super Cyclonic Storm>120 knots

>222 km/hVery SevereCyclonic Storm

64–119 knots118–221 km/h

S C l i 8 63 kSevere CyclonicStorm

48–63 knots88–117 km/h

Cyclonic Storm34–47 knots

62–87 km/h

Deep Depression28–33 knots

52–61 km/h

Depression27 knots

51 km/h

The eye wall hasclouds ranging from

Eye wall of thecyclone

10 to 15 km inheight. These cloudsswirl round the eyeof the cyclone.Tornado like vorticesof extreme windscan also beassociated with theeye wall.

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The eye is a region of mostly calm weather

The formation of an eye is almost always anindication of increasing tropical cyclonestrength.

with the lowest amount of atmosphericpressure. In the eye, the weather is clearwith light winds no clouds, no rain andsome sunshine.

The eye wall contains the storm's strongest winds and heaviest rainfall.

These conditions are in stark contrast to the eye of the cyclone.

In the top part of the eye wall the winds blow inIn the top part of the eye wall the winds blow inone direction. In the bottom part of the eye wall, the winds blow in the reverse direction.

Note: After the eye passes, and the other side of the cyclone hits, the wind blows with equal strength but in the opposite direction.

Do not be misled by the eye of the cyclone:•Due to the lowest amount of air pressure in the eye, it produces clear weather with light wind, no clouds, no rain and some sunshine. •These signs in the eye may indicate that the storm is over.•This is only the middle of the storm as the eye is y ylocated in the centre of the storm. •Depending on the speed of the movement of the cyclone, the eye may pass over in 1 to 2 hours. •After the eye has passed over, the cyclone will continue with violent winds blowing from the opposite direction.

Cyclone ‘AILA’ made landfallin South 24 Parganasdistrict, West Bengal, India,at around 12.00 noon on 25May 2009 with the eyepassing over many blocks ofthis district and thisinformation was not madeknown to the people livingin these areas.

Place of landfall.

According to Mr Manoranjan Das, one of the villagers of Brajabhallav village in Pather Pratima block, South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, India, the cyclone started at around 8 a.m. in the morning and lasted till 11.30 a.m. By then the embankment had already been broken and water had come into the village. At around 11.30 a.m. the cyclonic winds stopped and there was calm and peace again. Suddenly, after about two hours, high speed

l i i d t t d i t hi hcyclonic winds started again at a very highspeed and this time we noticed that they came from the opposite direction from the winds which came in the morning. We were not expecting the cyclone to recur again and we were once again caught unawares. The storm continued, with the wind and rain lashing the village from the opposite direction and this lasted till 7 p.m. in the evening.

Final path of cyclone SIDR

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Change in directions of cyclone SIDR• Cyclone initially expected to hit Orissa.• Subsequently predicted to hit West Bengal, India (SagarIsland and Kolkata)

• Then predicted to hit areas near the West Bengal/Bangladesh border

• Finally hit BangladeshImplications:• All these areas need better coordination and sharing ofinformation

• All need to be prepared as one does not know thechange that may occur at the last minute.

Impact of cyclone AILA

Impact of cyclone AILA Impact of cyclone AILA

Impact of cyclone AILA Large open lands for shrimp cultivation. Notrees at all

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Houses now have galvanised tin roofs instead of the earlier thatchedroofs. This is the new development taking place. With high speedcyclonic winds, these sheets can become very lethal flying objects.

Shrimp cultivation is now quite widespread. In some areas,the embankments have been cut to allow saline water intothe areas…What about the long term damage to theenvironment? Who suffers from these long term damages?

Shrimp cultivation – development or destruction for the localpopulations? Growth at what and whose costs? What fuel do

they use and where do they get if from?

Many embankments have been constructed by Govtand INGOs in the past…but what about their

maintenance? Does the community ‘own’ these assets?

The already eroded embankments easily breach with the tidal surge andsaline waters then affect the cultivable land, livelihoods, drinking water

etc of the people

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Largest delta in the world

Indian Sundarban includes both the non-forest area of 5400 sq km, andforested part of 4230sq km.

Declared as Reserve forestDeclared as Reserve forest

World Heritage site by IUCN in 1985.

Three islands namely Sajnekhali, Lothian and Halliday have been declaredas Wildlife Sanctuaries by MOEF, Govt. of India.

Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1989.

Sundarban is the only Mangrove tiger land in the world covering nearly60% of the total mangrove of India with highest biodiversity.

This estuarine system stretches from Hooghly in the western part toRaimangal, the easternmost arm of the system in India.

L d i l i h U b h f 5400 kLocated mainly in the Urban catchment of 5400 sq km.

Tidal length is about 120- 140 km in case of inner estuaries.

Tidal fluctuation varies from 5 – 6 mt w.r.t Mean water levelduring measured period (30 days duration)

Tidal range amplifies from Mouth to Head part

Beside Saptamukhi, all inner estuaries are reclaimed in itsheadward partheadward part

No upstream discharge in inner estuaries

Current ranges from 1 to 1.4 -1.5 mt/sec at .4D level

Near mouth and along narrow channel current is maximum.

Depth wise Current variation is within ± 10 cm/sec w.r.t toaverage speed (leaving bottom and surface current due to bedfriction and wind ))

Datum of tidal measurement is not at per with Hooghly riversystem

Along with marine source erosion at mouth supplies sediment toroll in estuary ------ Severe erosion at mouth ----Intensedeposition at head.

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Trajectory of Oil spill and suspended pollutant modeling in the Indian parts of Sundarban with high biodiversity.

Finding out more vulnerable coastal habitat through GISFinding out more vulnerable coastal habitat through GISanalysis

Risk assessment and priority setting of each habitats

Dissemination of knowledge and coordination with the respective departments beforehand

IWAI Route through Indian parts of Sundarban to Bangladesh

DEPLOYMENT DATE

04.01.2012 04.01.2012 05.01.2012 05.01.2012 05.01.2012 05.01.2012

RETRIEVAL DATE

08.02.2012 08.02.2012 09.02.2012 09.02.2012 09.02.2012 09.02.2012

TIME 2.12 pm 5.17 pm 9.15 am 12.28 pm 2.13 pm 6.12 pm

POINT ID 1 2 3 4 5 6

LATITUDE 22003.4233’N 22002.6523’N 21051.9105’N 21042.2250’N 21038.3957’N 21037.6588’N

LONGITUDE

88044.6645’E 88038.5584’E 88039.5310’E 88041.7290’E 88041.6172’E 88036.4944’E

LOCATION BALI KAIKHALI AJMALMARI DALHOUSIE(ARABHANGA

)

MATLA EAST MATLA WEST

DEPTH 11.0 m 14.01 m 14.6 m 19.6 m 10.5 m 12.8 m

TIDE GAUGE TYPE &

NO.

33786(DIRECTIONAL)

34890(NON-

DIRECTIONAL)

34891(NON-

DIRECTIONAL)

- 34899(DIRECTIONAL)

33803(NON-

DIRECTIONAL)

CURRENT METER TYPE &

NO.

AANDERA- 546 AANDERA-545

VALEPORT-31656

RDCPAANDERA

- VALEPORT- 31655

BOAT'S NAME

F.B. CHANDMANI

F.B. FIRUJA F.B. MAYER ASHIRBAD

F.B. MAYER ASHIRBAD

F.B. MA ACHIAF.B. SONAR

BANGLANAME OF BOAT'S

MENJULHAS MOLLA

FARID MOLLA CHORAP SARDAR

KACHENI LASKAR

RAICHI ALI GHARAMI KAMAL SARDAR

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

-80 -30 20 70

U aAnd V components (cm/sec)_Pirkhali

U and V …

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-120

-90

-60

-30

0

30

60

90

120

-70 -20 30 80

U and V component at Kaikhali

Wind Rose diagram showing the Current Direction at Bali

Wind Rose diagram showing the Current Direction at Kaikhali

CONTROLLING FACTORS OFCONTROLLING FACTORS OFOIL SPILL/ POLLUTANT DISPERSION OIL SPILL/ POLLUTANT DISPERSION

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Commodity 2009-2010 ( In Lakh Tonnes) 2010-2011 ( In Lakh Tonnes)

Import Export Total Import Export Total

POL Crude 46.94 0 46.94 44.08 0 44.08

POL Product 31.82 12.59 44.41 43.76 17.64 61.40

LPG 8.94 0 8.94 11.14 0 11.14

Total Handling of More Harmful Oil & Oil Products 100.29 116.62

Vegetable Oil 14.62 0 14.62 16.57 0 16.57

Coal Tar Pitch 0 0.11 0.11 0.22 0.15 0.37

Total Handling of Less Harmful Oil & Oil Products 14.73 16.94

1 2 3 4

Location

(coordinates in UTM)

Kaikhali

(669320.980,2438376.963)

Herobhanga

(676879.8176,2431316.571)

Netidhopani

(676879.8176,2431316.571)

Matla Mouth

(672079.896,2397210.768)

Spill duration 6 hrs-with wind forcing 6 hrs-with wind forcing 6 hrs- with wind forcing 6 hrs- with wind forcing

Simulation duration

6 days 5 days 5 days 5 days

Output grid resolution

250 m 250 m 250 m 250 m

Individual simulation period

05th January to 11th

January 05th January to 09th

January 05th January to 09th January 05th January to 09th January

1 2 3 4

Location


Kaikhali

(669320.980,2438376.963)

Herobhanga

(676879.8176,2431316.571)

Netidhopani

(676879.8176,2431316.571)

Matla Mouth

(672079.896,2397210.768)

Spill duration 3 hrs-with wind forcing 3 hrs-with wind forcing 3 hrs-with wind forcing 3 hrs-with wind forcing

Simulation duration

6 days 5 days 5 days 5 days


250 m 250 m 250 m 250 m


05th January to 11th January 05th January to 09th January 05th January to 09th January 05th January to 09th January

1 2 3 4

Location


Kaikhali

(669320.980,2438376.963)

Herobhanga

(676879.8176,2431316.571)

Netidhopani

(676879.8176,2431316.571)

Matla Mouth

(672079.896,2397210.768)

Spill duration 3 hrs-without wind forcing 6 hrs-without wind forcing 6 hrs-without wind forcing 6 hrs-without wind forcing

Simulation duration 6 days 5 days 5 days 5 days


250 m 250 m 250 m 250 m


05th January to 11th

January 05th January to 09th January 05th January to 09th January 05th January to 09th

January

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Coastal Habitats

Sensitivity For Oil Pollution

(1-10) Weight(30%)

Values cultural

and social (10)

Weight(10%)

Scientific Value(1-10) Weight(20%)

Environmental

importance(10) Weight

(30%)

Economic considerations

(10) Weight(10%)

Total Relative Response of Sensitivity

(a)=(wi*si)(%)

Risk Index Order Priority

Dense 26 18 32 84mangrove

forest9 8 8 10 8 8.9 26.18

%3 26.7 32.84

%A

Sparse mangrove

forest7 8 8 9 8 8 23.53

%3 24 29.30

%A

Estuary 6 3 3 4 4 4.3 12.65%

2 8.6 10.50%

B

Intertidal Mudflats

4 3 4 7 2 4.6 13.53%

2 9.2 11.23%

B

Vegetated mudflat

6 4 4 6 4 5.215.29

% 2 10.412.70

% B

Sand flat 3 3 2 4 2 3 8.82% 1 3 3.66 C

1) A well calibrated HD model is essential for trajectory modelling.

2) Water Current and wind play major role for the modelling in every marine environment but in some parts of this complicated estuarine system tidal current alone is enough to drift oil slick/ pollutant.

3) Mangrove both dense and sparse is under high risk followed by intertidal flat both bare and vegetatedflat both bare and vegetated

4) Modelling provides impacts of such consequences on resources and delineate the path

5) Quick steps can be taken to control its spread.

6) Beforehand measures can reduce the impact of such disasters in this ecosystem

7) Cross boundary interaction and support is essential to tackle such situations

Thank youThank youThank you

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Tiger

Md. Mozaharul IslamForest Department Dhaka, Bangladesh

Outline of this Presentation

• Introduction

• About TigersAbout Tigers

• Tiger Habitat

• Reproduction and Afterwards

• Tiger Behaviour

• Conclusion

Introduction

Tiger is an important wildlifespecies which is beingthreatened for centuries.

Conservationist, wildlife biologists, researchers are trying to arrest its diminishing trend through different approaches.

Governments of tiger range countries along with international agencies taking different initiatives to overcome the ordeals.

Study of behavior of tiger is one of the corner stone to consider for such initiatives.

About TigersThe tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest species of Felidae.Ground colour is reddish orange to reddish ochre, with darkstripes that are generally vertical. Under parts are white orwhitish. The body structure corresponds to the general form ofFelidae. Tigers are muscular, with powerful forequarters, andespecially in male, with a relatively large head. Total length ofd lt ll b t 2200 d 3000 f ladults generally ranges between 2200 and 3000 mm; females

are somewhat smaller. The length of tail usually does notexceed one half of the head-and-body length.

Teeth of tiger areexceptionally stout.Canines are long andslightly curved; they arethe longest among livingfelids.

Tiger Habitat:Tigers are tolerant of a variety of environmental conditions, the only apparent requisites for their survival being some form of plant cover, a water supply, and sufficient prey.

Tigers are found in tropical Asia in humid rain forest, wet evergreen and semi evergreen forests mangrove swampsevergreen and semi-evergreen forests, mangrove swamps,moist thorn and dry deciduousforests, thick grass, bamboothickets, savannahs andshrub land.

Tiger occur up to altitudes of 2000 to 3000 m.

Tigers are essentially solitary, except for the short mating season and the time when the young are dependent on their mother.The sizes of the territory and home range vary depending on the type of habitat, density of prey, arid on the sex and age of the animal.The size of territory of Bengal tigers usually varies fromThe size of territory of Bengal tigers usually varies from200 to 1000 sq km, but areas as small as 16.5 sq km and as large as 9252 sq km have been ascertained.

Within its territory, a tiger has one or more dens or lairs, placed in dense cover among rocks or shrubs, a cave, a hollow tree or a cavity under a fallen tree.

Tigers return more or less regularly to their lairs.

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Reproduction and Afterwards:A tigress becomes in to heat at any time of the year; it is mostfrequent, from about the end of November to the first half ofApril.A tigress becomes in to heat at intervals of 3 to 9 weeks, and is receptive for about 3 to 6 days. Gestation averages between 104 to 106 days,The usual number of cubs is two or three and typically varies from one to four. Cubs are born at an interval of 20 to 40 minutes

Families are disintegrated, usually two, but sometimes even three or four years after the preceding young.

Length of head and body of new born tiger varies from about 315 to 400 mm, and that of tail from 130 to 160 mm. The fur is thick and wooly, and of the same colour pattern as in the adult, but is somewhat lighter coloured.

At the age of 2 to 3 years young tigers attain the general colour of adults.The eyes and ears of newborn cubs are closed; they open 6 to 14 and 9 to 11 days respectively, after birth. The eruption of milk teeth starts at about 2 to 3 weeks and is finished at about 6 to 8 weeks.

Tiger BehaviourIn general gait, both legs of one side move together oralmost so. Jumping ability is well developed. Tigers usuallydo not climb trees, although there are several reports of theirclimbing abilities.Tiger likes water and can swim very well, easily crossingrivers and streams as wide as 6 to 8 km, exceptionally evenp y29 km.Tigers are lone hunters, mainly preyingupon larger mammals. hunting primarilyat night when the ungulates are mostactive. When moving through itsterritory, a tiger regularly uses certainrouts or beats. Tigers, searching forprey, move considerable distance; inIndia they may cover 16 to 30 km in anight.

Tigers are excellent hunters and killers, yet for eachsuccessful kill some 10 to 20 unsuccessful attempts aremade.

Tigers have priority rights to its own meat supply, even in the presence of a larger and stronger animal.While mating, tigers are always very excited and noisy.Copulation lasts 15 to 20 seconds, at the most. In thewild, tiger and tigress stay together for about 5 to 7 days.

Some special features of behavior are displayed byman-eating tigers. They kill mainly by day.

Tigers are able to change their habits according to thoseof their prey.

A man-eater generally tries to surprise its victim from oneside or rare and kill it by a bite through the throat or nape.A h t i ti f t f b h i f ti ti iA characteristic feature of behavior of man-eating tiger is

that they operate over a very large area.Tigers probably become man-eaters because they cannotcapture and kill their normal prey.This may be because a tigerbecomes crippled by a shot-woundor by deep suppurating woundscaused by porcupine quills,because of old age.

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ConclusionIt is already decided both mentally and on action to conserve tiger population of the world.

Behavior study is a necessity to make appropriateapproaches. To enrich knowledge on tiger behaviormore research is needed It may open moremore research is needed. It may open moreavenues for tiger conservation initiatives.

Thank you

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The CoThe Co--management:management:

•• A situation in which two or more social A situation in which two or more social actors negotiate, define and guarantee amongst actors negotiate, define and guarantee amongst themselves a fair sharing of the managementthemselves a fair sharing of the managementthemselves a fair sharing of the management themselves a fair sharing of the management functions, entitlements and responsibilities for a functions, entitlements and responsibilities for a given territory, area or set of natural resources.given territory, area or set of natural resources.

Co-Management

Nishorgo Support Project (NSP) in f t (2003 08)

Previous Experience

.

forest areas(2003-08)

Management of Aquatic Ecosystem through Community Husbandry (MACH) in wetlands (1998-05)

Co-Management continued

Legal BasisThe Ministry of Environment and Forest has issued Gazette notification in this regard and approved legal formation of the co-management organizations. The government has also approved to provide 50% of the revenue raised from visitor entry fee from PAs to the Co-management O i ti (CMC)

.• Co-management Council (called CMC-Council)and

• Co-management Committee (called CMC-Committee).

• The first one is the General Body for policy development and the second one is the Executive Body for implementing activities.

Co-Management Organization (CMO)

Organization (CMC).

Present Status of CoPresent Status of Co--Management in the Sundarbans:Management in the Sundarbans:

•• Started April 2009 through IPAC Project in KhulnaStarted April 2009 through IPAC Project in Khulna

• 4 Committee have been formed in 4 Ranges

• The CMCs of Chandpai and Sarankhola Ranges developed the ADP for 2010 11 and implementing the activities usingADP for 2010-11 and implementing the activities usingthe IPAC project fund.

• ADP includes AIGA support, drinking water support, and training in NRM.

• CMC recently got LDF from USAID

Main CoMain Co--Management Values and Management Values and Principles Principles

•• Recognising Recognising different values, interests and different values, interests and concernsconcerns involved in managing a territory, area involved in managing a territory, area or set of natural resources, both outside the local or set of natural resources, both outside the local communities and within them.communities and within them.

•• Seeking Seeking transparencytransparency and and equityequity in natural in natural resource management resource management

•• Allowing the Allowing the civilcivil societysociety to assume ever more to assume ever more important roles and responsibilitiesimportant roles and responsibilities

CoCo--Management Adoption by Management Adoption by Bangladesh GovernmentBangladesh Government

Based on the success of MACH and NSP and taking Based on the success of MACH and NSP and taking account the limitation of forest conservation and account the limitation of forest conservation and management, the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) has management, the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) has d id d d h Cd id d d h C h dh ddecided to adopt the Codecided to adopt the Co--management approach and to management approach and to involve local people in the natural resource conservation involve local people in the natural resource conservation and management through collaboration and active and management through collaboration and active participation. The basis of such collaboration and participation. The basis of such collaboration and participation would be "equitable sharing of benefits".participation would be "equitable sharing of benefits".

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CoCo--Management Organization:Management Organization:

(1)(1) CoCo--management Council management Council (called CMC(called CMC--CouncilCouncil)) and and

(2)(2) CoCo--management Committee (management Committee (called called CMCCMC--CommitteeCommittee)). .

The first one is the General Body for policy The first one is the General Body for policy development and the second one is the development and the second one is the Executive Body for implementing activities. Executive Body for implementing activities.

Member Eligible for the CouncilMember Eligible for the Council

65 members (maximum) in the Council and at least 15 of 65 members (maximum) in the Council and at least 15 of them are female. The members of the council comprises them are female. The members of the council comprises of Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF), beat/ Station of Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF), beat/ Station Officer, adjacent Range Officer, people from civil Officer, adjacent Range Officer, people from civil society, local government & administration, law society, local government & administration, law y, g ,y, g ,enforcement departments, local people, indigenous enforcement departments, local people, indigenous community, resource user institution/representative of community, resource user institution/representative of the Peoples Forum, member of the Community the Peoples Forum, member of the Community Patrolling Group (CPG).Patrolling Group (CPG).

Peoples Forum (PF).

Major Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Council:Major Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Council:

a) review and approval of the Annual Development Plan a) review and approval of the Annual Development Plan (ADP).(ADP).

b) Monitoring and evaluation of the adopted activities b) Monitoring and evaluation of the adopted activities and guidance. and guidance. gg

c) act as the guardian in implementing the coc) act as the guardian in implementing the co--management activities. management activities.

d) sit together at least two times in a year. d) sit together at least two times in a year. e) formed through election and its tenure is 4 years.e) formed through election and its tenure is 4 years.

Member Eligible for the CoMember Eligible for the Co--management Committeemanagement Committee

•• 29 and at least 5 of them are female. 29 and at least 5 of them are female.

• Others members come from different Govt. i ti l t d t ti d diff torganizations, elected representatives and different

resource users group.

Major Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Committee:Major Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Committee:

a) Preparation of Annual Development Plan (ADP) for each a) Preparation of Annual Development Plan (ADP) for each year and get approval by the Council for implementation.year and get approval by the Council for implementation.

b) Implementation of the ADP of the Protected Area b) Implementation of the ADP of the Protected Area approved by the council. approved by the council.

c) Select people from local area to perform the activities for the c) Select people from local area to perform the activities for the implementation of ADP.implementation of ADP.

d) Ensure equitable distribution of goods and services to the d) Ensure equitable distribution of goods and services to the ) q g) q gstakeholders.stakeholders.

e) Assist to the Forest Department in selecting participants in e) Assist to the Forest Department in selecting participants in buffer zone plantation.buffer zone plantation.

f) Assist to the Forest Department in protecting the forest f) Assist to the Forest Department in protecting the forest resources by forming Community Patrolling Group (CPG) resources by forming Community Patrolling Group (CPG) from the members of Peoples Forum.from the members of Peoples Forum.

g) Keep records of all incomes (comes from any sources) and g) Keep records of all incomes (comes from any sources) and expenditures.expenditures.

Achievements Achievements of CMOsof CMOs4 CMOs have been formed4 CMOs have been formed-- one for one for

each Rangeeach RangeAbout 31,000 sundarban dependent About 31,000 sundarban dependent

families have been identified within 5 families have been identified within 5 km from the periphery of sundarbanskm from the periphery of sundarbans

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Some AIG activities have been Some AIG activities have been provided for the dependent peopleprovided for the dependent peopleSome common facilities have been Some common facilities have been

developed for the local peopledeveloped for the local peopleDifferent types of trainings have been Different types of trainings have been

given to the dependent peoplegiven to the dependent people

Constraint for CoConstraint for Co--management in Sundarbans:management in Sundarbans:

1) Co1) Co--management council/committee will be formed with the management council/committee will be formed with the people living in and around the protected areas. people living in and around the protected areas.

2) Co-management only in PAs

3) 50% revenue income will go to CMC’s.

4) Presently the CMC's working area is 5km in the landscape.

5) CMC will be formed Range-based.

Constraint for CoConstraint for Co--management in Sundarbans:management in Sundarbans:

6) A huge number of people are dependent on the resources of Sundarbans and the numbers are increasing day by day

7) Scope and options of large scale AIGs

8) There is lack of coordination among the NGOs

9) Li f h l i l9) Literacy rate of the people is very low.

10) The health, education, family planning and drinking water facilities are low.

11) High rate of birth and child mortality.

12) Modality of spending 50% of revenue earned from Sundarbans yet to finalize

Recommendations:Recommendations:

•• Amendment of the CoAmendment of the Co--management Gazette management Gazette •• The whole Sundarbans (PA and Buffer zone) The whole Sundarbans (PA and Buffer zone)

should be brought under coshould be brought under co--management.management.•• At least 10km landscape area should be broughtAt least 10km landscape area should be broughtAt least 10km landscape area should be brought At least 10km landscape area should be brought

under the working area of Counder the working area of Co--management.management.•• The number of CoThe number of Co--management organization management organization

should be two or more in one range. should be two or more in one range.

Recommendations:Recommendations:

• NGOs, projects and GO working in the 10km

• The CMC should be provided with the 50% of the income from minor forest produces including fish resources of the entire Sundarbansresources of the entire Sundarbans

• Quick arrangement of paying the 50% money

• More investment from GO, NGO and projects on livelihood and AIGA should be initiated

• Modality should be developed

Conclusion:Conclusion:

1) The proper conservation of Sundarbans can earn 1) The proper conservation of Sundarbans can earn money in two ways of carbon credit sale and money in two ways of carbon credit sale and tourism. tourism.

2) Without participation of local people, it is extremely difficult to manage the Sundarbans y gefficiently and ensuring long-term sustainability

3) Co-management application for Sundarbans will be solved, an effective co-management practice will be established

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WILDLIFE GOVERNANCE &WILDLIFE GOVERNANCE &MITIGATION OF CONFLICTSMITIGATION OF CONFLICTS

DR SUBRAT MUKHERJEE, DR SUBRAT MUKHERJEE, IFSIFSFIELD DIRECTORFIELD DIRECTOR

SUNDARBAN TIGER RESERVESUNDARBAN TIGER RESERVE

INDIANINDIANSUNDARBANSSUNDARBANS

(4265 SQ KM approx)(4265 SQ KM approx)BANGLADESHBANGLADESHSUNDARBANSSUNDARBANS(6000 SQ KM approx)(6000 SQ KM approx)STRSTR

(2585 SQ KM)(2585 SQ KM)

SOUTHSOUTH24 PGS24 PGS

(1680 SQ KM)(1680 SQ KM)BUFFER AREABUFFER AREA

NP OF STR = WHSNP OF STR = WHS(1330 SQ KM)(1330 SQ KM)

THE HUMANTHE HUMAN--TIGER TIGER INTERFACEINTERFACE

CIVIL BLOCKSCIVIL BLOCKS• BLOCKs – 29

• GRAM PANCHAYATs – 312

• TOTAL AREA – 8165.05 SQ KM

• POPULATION DENSITY – 846 / SQ KM

• TOTAL FRINGE POPULATION – 4.2 MILLION

• MAJOR OCCUPATION –

AGRICULTURE AND FISHING

SOUTH 24 PGS DISTSOUTH 24 PGS DISTWEST BENGAL, INDIAWEST BENGAL, INDIA

SUNDARBANSSUNDARBANS

FOREST BLOCKSTOTAL MANGROVE R.F. – 4265 SQ.KMS.

SUNDARBAN TIGER RESERVE – 2585 SQ.KMS

S. 24 PGS FOREST DIVISION – 1680 SQ.KMS

PROTECTED AREAS

AREA OF SUNDARBAN N.P. – 1330 SQ.KMS

AREA OF SWLS – 362 SQ.KMS

AREA OF LOTHIAN WLS – 38 SQ.KMS

AREA OF HALIDAY WLS – 6 SQ.KMS

JT. DIRECTORJT. DIRECTOR( CF RANK)

FIELD DIRECTORFIELD DIRECTOR( CF RANK)

DFO/S.24 PGS DIVNDFO/S.24 PGS DIVNDFO/N.24 PGS. DIVNDFO/N.24 PGS. DIVN

( DCF RANK)

DFD/SUNDARBAN DFD/SUNDARBAN TIGER RESERVETIGER RESERVE

( DCF RANK)

ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE OF SBR

DIRECTOR SBR ( CCF RANK)( CCF RANK)

N24N24

PGPG

DIVNDIVN TERRITORIAL TERRITORIAL RANGE RANGE

BEATBEAT

STRSTR 44 1717

S.24 PGSS.24 PGS 88 2323

N.24 PGSN.24 PGS 55 1212

ADFOs ( ACF RANK)( ACF RANK)

FOREST RANGERS AND DEPUTY RANGERS

AND FRONTLINE STAFFSS

TT

RR

S 24 S 24 PGPG

DIVNDIVN

DIVNDIVN

WILDLIFE GOVERNANCEWILDLIFE GOVERNANCE

•• INTENSIVE PROTECTION OF FLORA & FAUNAINTENSIVE PROTECTION OF FLORA & FAUNA•• MITIGATION OF CONFLICTSMITIGATION OF CONFLICTS•• ECODEVELOPMENT WORKSECODEVELOPMENT WORKS•• ECOECO--TOURISMTOURISM•• RESEARCH, MONITORING & EVALUATIONRESEARCH, MONITORING & EVALUATION

Target PopulationThere are seven CD ( out of 19 in total ) Blocks harbouring 51FPCs and 14 EDCs comprising of 46 proximal villages ( outof 65 in total ) accounting for over 210302 people ( out of 3.5million in total as per 2001 census and projected as 4.2million in total in 2011 ) – who make particularly high demandof the ecosystem and thus form the basicbasic targettarget populationpopulation..

P l ti th i S d b Bi h R

STRSTR hashas aa veryvery smallsmall interfaceinterfacewhereaswhereas2424 ParganasParganas (S)(S) DivisionDivisionhashas largelarge interfaceinterface

Population growth curve in Sundarban Biosphere Reserve

19651970197519801985199019952000200520102015

1 2 3 4

Year

00.511.522.533.544.5

Pop

ulat

ion

(inm

illio

n)

Year

Population (in million)

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‘ALP’ TO REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON ‘ALP’ TO REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON FOREST FOREST –– WHY SO IMPORTANT ???WHY SO IMPORTANT ???

•• bcoz all seasonal occupations are bcoz all seasonal occupations are forest dependent EXCEPT forest dependent EXCEPT

AGRICULTURE FROM APRILAGRICULTURE FROM APRIL--JUNEJUNEOCCUPATION REGIME

80

5

140.5

0.5

AGRICULTUREFISHING

BUSINESSSERVICE

HONEY COLLECTIONApr

il A

pril

––Ju

neJu

ne

OCCUPATION REGIME

30

60

90.50.5

AGRICULTURE

FISHINGBUSINESS

SERVICELABOURS

OCCUPATION REGIME

20

70

90.50.5

AGRICULTUREFISHINGBUSINESSSERVICETOURISM

July

Ju

ly ––

Oct

ober

Oct

ober

Nov

Nov

––M

arch

Mar

chECODEVELOPMENT WORKS ECODEVELOPMENT WORKS

& TRUST BUILDING ACTIVITIES& TRUST BUILDING ACTIVITIESS. .N. ECO-DEVELOPMENT WORKS QUANTUM

1 Ponds 832 Smokeless Chullah 13900

3 Irrigation Channel (In Km.) 704 Medical Camps 1425 Awareness & Training Camps 736 Deep Tube Wells 1077 Nursery ( In Ha. = 2500 Seedlings) 725

8 Fuel wood Plantation (Ha.) 1145( )

9 Fruit Plants 6200010 Brick Path (Km.) 7311 Solar Lights 16512 Solar Lanterns 61013 Micro-Planning Trainings 1914 Study Tours 2115 Community Centers 1716 Jetty 6117 Vocational Trainings 27

Joint Forest management has won the trust of people to a reasonably good level and needs to be consolidated

YEAR FUNDING(IN INR) IPI(IN $)IPI(IN $)1998-99 4400016.00 10.4410.44

1999-00 2965000.00 7.047.042000-01 4592930.00 10.9010.902001-02 2706397.00 6.426.422002-03 3685781.00 8.758.75

INPUT PER INDIVIDUALINPUT PER INDIVIDUAL

2003-04 6275000.00 14.8914.892004-05 7855000.00 18.6518.652005-06 4154000.00 9.869.862006-07 2200000.00 5.225.222007-08 8200000.00 19.4719.472008-09 12800000.00 20.2120.212009-10 14600000.00 21.2221.222010-11 16700000.00 23.6723.67

HUMAN-TIGER CONFLICT IN THE UNDIVIDED SUNDERBANS

YEAR No. of Men Carried Away

No. of Tigers Killed

1881-82 161 31883-84 168 81907-08 120 91911-12 112 611914-15 79 361915-16 60 33Source: A.C. Gupta, West Bengal Forests (Centenary Commemoration Volume,1964)

• A REWARD OF RS 200/- WAS ANNOUNCED FOR EACH TIGER KILL IN 1910 AND CONTINUED TILL INDEPENDENCE• TILL POST INDEPENDENCE, TIGER WAS CONSIDERED AS ‘PEST’

HUMAN HUMAN –– TIGER CONFLICTSTIGER CONFLICTSCLASSIFIEDCLASSIFIED

CONFLICTCONFLICT INSIDEINSIDE FORESTFOREST

DUE TO BIOTIC INTERFERENCE CAUSEDBY FISHERMEN, HONEY COLLECTORS,WOOD COLLECTORS ETC

CONFLICTCONFLICT OUTSIDEOUTSIDE FORESTFOREST

WHEN TIGER STRAYS IN A VILLAGE ANDKILLS/INJURES LIVESTOCK AND HUMANBEINGS

TIGER STARYING TIGER STARYING -- CLASSIFIEDCLASSIFIED

•TEMPORARY STRAYING

STRAYSTRAY TOTO THETHE VILLAGEVILLAGE ANDAND RETURNRETURN TOTO JUNGLEJUNGLE OFOF ITSITS OWNOWN

MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT OPTIONSOPTIONS –– DRIVINGDRIVING // TRAPPINGTRAPPING

•PERMANENT STRAYING

ENTRYENTRY DEEPDEEP INSIDEINSIDE VILLAGEVILLAGE ANDAND LOSSLOSS OFOF DIRECTIONDIRECTION ,,

MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT OPTIONSOPTIONS -- TRANQUILIZATION,TRANQUILIZATION, TRANSLOCATIONTRANSLOCATION ANDAND RELEASERELEASE

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MAJOR CAUSES OF TIGER STARYINGMAJOR CAUSES OF TIGER STARYING

•• TERRITORIAL FIGHTTERRITORIAL FIGHT

•• BREEDING / LITTERING TIMEBREEDING / LITTERING TIME

•• INTERMINGLED FOREST AND VILLAGEINTERMINGLED FOREST AND VILLAGE

•• IN SEARCH OF EASY PREYIN SEARCH OF EASY PREY

•• INJURY AND OLD AGEINJURY AND OLD AGE

11STST GENERATION MANAGEMENT [ 1973(PT DECLARATION) GENERATION MANAGEMENT [ 1973(PT DECLARATION) –– 1988(NFP) ]1988(NFP) ]

STATUSSTATUS

• PEOPLE KILLED – MAINLY FISHERMEN, HONEY COLLECTORS, COUPE OPERATORS• TIGERS KILLED – BY POACHERS, RETALIATORY KILLING•• TOTAL STRAYING CASES TOTAL STRAYING CASES –– 303 NOS303 NOS

MITIGATION METHODS MITIGATION METHODS

•• USE OF MASKSUSE OF MASKS•• USE OF ELECTRIC DUMMIESUSE OF ELECTRIC DUMMIES•• EXCAVATION OF SWEET WATER PONDSEXCAVATION OF SWEET WATER PONDS

USE OF MASK ELECTRIC DUMMY SWEET WATER POND

22NDND GENERATION MANAGEMENT [ 1988(NFP) GENERATION MANAGEMENT [ 1988(NFP) –– 2001 ]2001 ]

MITIGATION METHODSMITIGATION METHODS

EMPHASIS ON REDUCING STRAYINGEMPHASIS ON REDUCING STRAYING•• USE OF GORAN (USE OF GORAN (CeriopsCeriops)) -- GEWA (GEWA (ExcoecariaExcoecaria) CHITTA FENCING ALONG FRINGE) CHITTA FENCING ALONG FRINGE•• INITIATION OF TRAINED TRANQUILIZATION SQUADINITIATION OF TRAINED TRANQUILIZATION SQUAD•• INTRODUCTION OF NYLON NET FENCINGINTRODUCTION OF NYLON NET FENCING

EMPHASIS ON REDUCING NUMBER OF PEOPLE ENTRYEMPHASIS ON REDUCING NUMBER OF PEOPLE ENTRY•• ECODEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN VILLAGESECODEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN VILLAGES•• EMPHASIS ON FARM BASED ACTIVITIES FROM FOREST ACTIVITIESEMPHASIS ON FARM BASED ACTIVITIES FROM FOREST ACTIVITIES•• COUPE OPERATION STOPPEDCOUPE OPERATION STOPPED•• NUMBER OF HONEY COLLECTORS REDUCEDNUMBER OF HONEY COLLECTORS REDUCED

GORAN CHITA FENCING AGRICULTURE INPUT TRANQUILIZATION

22NDND GENERATION MANAGEMENT [ 1988(NFP) GENERATION MANAGEMENT [ 1988(NFP) –– 2001 ]2001 ]STATUS OF CONFLICTSTATUS OF CONFLICT•• TOTAL TIGER STRAYING CASES TOTAL TIGER STRAYING CASES –– 280280•• HUMAN DEATH REDUCEDHUMAN DEATH REDUCED

Persons Killed by Tiger in Sunderban Tiger Reserve since 1985-86

32

4338

3431

40

50

er

No.

2521

149

4 3 52

13 1512 14

82 0 0

6 75

0

10

20

30

1985-86 1986-87 1987-88 1988-89 1989-90 1990-91 1991-92 1992-93 1993-94 1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09

Year

Tota

l Num

be

33RDRD GENERATION MANAGEMENT [ 2002 GENERATION MANAGEMENT [ 2002 –– TILL DATE TILL DATE (REASONING,ANALYSIS) ](REASONING,ANALYSIS) ]

MITIGATION METHODSMITIGATION METHODS•• USE OF NYLON NET FENCING ( 48 KM OUT OF 65 KM INTERFACE )USE OF NYLON NET FENCING ( 48 KM OUT OF 65 KM INTERFACE )•• REDUCED REACTION TIMEREDUCED REACTION TIME

6 EQUIPPED ‘TSCF’6 EQUIPPED ‘TSCF’

STATUS OF CONFLICTSTATUS OF CONFLICT

•• 2 STRAYED TIGER WERE KILLED BY PEOPLE (2001)2 STRAYED TIGER WERE KILLED BY PEOPLE (2001)•• HUMAN DEATHS REDUCEDHUMAN DEATHS REDUCED•• STRAYING REDUCEDSTRAYING REDUCED

•• 6 EQUIPPED ‘TSCF’6 EQUIPPED ‘TSCF’•• LARGE SCALE ECODEVELOPMENT WORKSLARGE SCALE ECODEVELOPMENT WORKS•• HRD & CAPACITY BUILDING HRD & CAPACITY BUILDING

NYLON NET FENCE ALONG FOREST‘TSCF’ WITH TIGER GUARD

88--10 FT10 FT

MESH – 4”X4”

METAL RUNNER

(A)(A)

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENTRESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

(A)(A) EARLIEREARLIER THETHE STRAYEDSTRAYED OUTOUTCAPTUREDCAPTURED TIGERTIGER WASWASRELEASEDRELEASED ‘‘ONON LAND’LAND’ TILLTILL20012001

( )( )

(B)(B)

(B)(B) NOWNOW THETHE TIGERTIGER ISIS BEINGBEINGRELEASEDRELEASED FROMFROM ‘‘BOAT’BOAT’

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REASEARCHREASEARCH && DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

• CRITICAL EVALUATION OF ‘ALP’ FORFUTURE PLANING OF PARTICIPATORYFOREST MANAGEMENT - AN ‘IUCN-MFF’SMALL GRANT PROJECT

•• EAREAR--TAGGINGTAGGING ANDAND MICROCHIPPINGMICROCHIPPING ––TILLTILL DATEDATE 22 FEMALESFEMALES ANDAND 22 MALESMALES TIGERTIGERHAVEHAVE BEENBEEN EAREAR--TAGGEDTAGGED ANDANDMICROCHIPPEDMICROCHIPPED TOTO STUDYSTUDY THEIRTHEIR STRAYINGSTRAYINGBEHAVIOURBEHAVIOUR ON YON Y ONEONE FEMA EFEMA E SHOWEDSHOWEDBEHAVIOURBEHAVIOUR -- ONLYONLY ONEONE FEMALEFEMALE SHOWEDSHOWEDSUCHSUCH REPEATEDREPEATED STRAYINGSTRAYING TENDENCYTENDENCY

1ST CAPTUTE

1ST RELEASEJHILLA-1

PIRKHALI-1

CAPTURE CAPTURE

& RELOCATION & RELOCATION

(30TH JUNE’09)

(3RD JULY’09)

2ND CAPTUTE

2ND RELEASE

BAGMARA-7DULIBHASANI-3

OF A SAME TIGRESSOF A SAME TIGRESS

(WLWB/0001)(WLWB/0001)

(31ST JULY’09)

(2ND AUGUST’09)

REASEARCHREASEARCH && DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

•• TREATMENTTREATMENT OFOF INJUREDINJURED TIGERTIGER ––TILLTILL DATEDATE 33 MALEMALE TIGERSTIGERS ANDAND 11 FEMALEFEMALE TIGERTIGER HAVEHAVE BEENBEEN FOUNDFOUND STRAYINGSTRAYING DUEDUEHUNTINGHUNTING INCAPABILITYINCAPABILITY ANDAND THEYTHEY WEREWERE TREATEDTREATED ATAT KOLKATAKOLKATA ZOOZOO ANDAND 22 (TWO)(TWO)OFOF THEMTHEM TRANSLOCATEDTRANSLOCATED BACKBACK TOTO THETHE WILDWILD

13 03 200913 03 2009 22 07 200922 07 2009•• BEHAVIOURALBEHAVIOURAL STUDYSTUDY ––

STUDIESSTUDIES HAVEHAVE SHOWNSHOWN THATTHAT SUNDARBANSUNDARBAN TIGERSTIGERS AREARE LESSLESS ININ BODYBODYWEIGHTWEIGHT && SMALLERSMALLER ININ SIZESIZE COMPAREDCOMPARED TOTO MAINMAIN LANDLAND TIGERSTIGERS

ANIMAL ANIMAL SEXSEX DATEDATE ACTUALACTUALWEIGHTWEIGHT

LENGTH (Cm.)LENGTH (Cm.) NECK NECK GIRTHGIRTH(cm.)(cm.)

CHEST CHEST GIRTHGIRTH(cm.)(cm.)

SHOULDERSHOULDERHEIGHTHEIGHT

(cm.)(cm.)Nose Nose tip to tip to HeadHead

Head Head toto

AnusAnus

TailTaillengthlength

TotalTotal

TigerTiger MaleMale 22.05.1022.05.10 97 kg97 kg 32.532.5 137137 8383 252.5252.5 5353 8989 8989

TigerTiger MaleMale 22.05.1022.05.10 115 kg115 kg 3535 133133 8484 252.0252.0 5656 9292 9494

TigerTiger FemaleFemale 27.06.1027.06.10 72 kg72 kg 3030 127127 8282 239.0239.0 4848 8787 6767

TigerTiger MaleMale 22.10.1022.10.10 98 kg98 kg 3333 148148 8080 261261 5757 8989 9494

13.03.200913.03.2009 22.07.200922.07.2009

THE WAY AHEADTHE WAY AHEAD

• RESEARCH ON TIGER ETHOLOGY & STRAYING BEHAVIOURETHOLOGY & STRAYING BEHAVIOUR• PROVISION OF ‘ALP’ ‘ALP’ TO REDUCE DEPENDENCY ON NATURAL RESOURCES• COVERING THE ENTIRE 68 KM 68 KM FRINGE BY NYLON NET FENCING• RESTOCKINGRESTOCKING OF PREY BASE• CONSTRUCTION OF RELOCATION CENTER RELOCATION CENTER FOR TIGER AT JHARKHALI• INSTALLATION OF SOLAR LIGHT SOLAR LIGHT ALONG THE FRINGE EMBANKMENT• COMMUNITY PATROLLING COMMUNITY PATROLLING ON VOLUNTARY BASIS• AWARENESS GENERATION & OUTREACHOUTREACH PROGRAM

PROPOSEDPROPOSEDINDOINDO –– BANGLA BANGLA

COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMSCOLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS

•• TRANSFER OF GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICESTRANSFER OF GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES•• SHARING OF INTELLIGENCE INFORMATIONSHARING OF INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION

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Communicating Sundarbans : triggering thoughts

JAYANTA BASUEnvironment Communications Expert

Director, Environment Governed Integrated Organisation, g gGuest Faculty, Dept. of Env. Sciences;

Dept of Journalism and Mass Communication , Calcutta University

Environment correspondent, the Telegraph, ABP4 Oct., 2012; transboundary meeting in

Sundarbans

1.What to communicate2 Wh t i t

Basic questions

2.Whom to communicate3.How to communicate

Nexus of queries generated model

•what – whom – how

• There will be different sets ofcombinations – accordingly modelsare to be developed

Social communication

• What – social communication – about any driver/ force which affects the life, kivelihood and lifestyle of population –agriculture / fishery/ apiculure ;agriculture / fishery/ apiculure ;metreological / climate change impacts

• Whom – stakeholders – govt machinary (official); civil society, target population, commercial entities


• How –agents – non profits/ panchayates/ micro

and macro govt machinaries – in partnershippartnership

Methods – ipc/ fgd etc – peer group interface – photographic and audio-visual aids may be better mediums of communication


• Possible Outputs

Behaviour change leading to more prepare / responsive society

Significant change in quality of life

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Media communicaion

• What – media communication – two-way – communicating the target populace and being communicated by them

• Whom – opinion makers – social leaders / presearchers and academicians/ government administration – local, district, state and central, international community, people within sundarbans, people outside sundarbans but within influence zone of its effect, other population groups

Media communication

• How – generating new product or imbibing with existing products - local vernacular papers / local channels/ short audio visual focus / mainstream papers/ mainstreamfocus / mainstream papers/ mainstreamchannels/ website or portal/ documentaries – showcasing case studies/ discussions/ interface etc

Media communication

• Possible Outputs

• More aware/ informed and responsive local society

• More responsible and better activated administration

• Taking the lab to land • Strenthening social mobilisation

Transboundary effect

• No story of sundarbans will complete unless it covers both Indian and Bangladesh – physically,

t ll t h i ll ildlif dconceptually, technically – wildlife andhuman elementwise

Transboundary – specific proposal

• A joined television programme series – as per the MOU signed between India and Bangladesh on communication – may be planned on specific topics –

Transboundary – specific proposal

SeriesSeriesislands/ agriculture /sea level rise/- tropical cyclone/ forest / mangrove/

water regime/ human condition /- water regime/ human condition /- infrastructure/ communication/ health/- education/ migration/ fishery

… major drivers of change

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Proceedings of Trans-boundary Sundarban workshop (October 3 to 6, 2012)

Environment

Transcript of Proceedings of Trans-boundary Sundarban workshop (October 3 to 6, 2012)