- Project Name
Sundarbans Biological Diversity Program
- Duration of the project
The project will be operational from 2023 and will save our lungs from the destruction of the famous Sundarbans.
- Preface of the Project
The world’s largest mangrove forest is called the Sundarbans. In Bangladesh’s southwest corner, it extends about 6,017 km and includes three wildlife sanctuary zones along the coast. The Sundarbans Biodiversity Conservation Project was launched by SESDO in Shyamnagar upazila under Satkhira district, which is located closer to the Sundarbans. For the purpose of resource extraction, a sizable portion of the upazila’s residents frequently visit the forest. For residential purposes, the locals even gather firewood from the forest. For obvious reasons, the project was carried out in Satkhira district under Khulna division.
For the purpose of resource extraction, a large section of the upazila residents frequent the forest. And they are regularly extracting forest resources from there indiscriminately. And due to this, along with the reduction of the forest resources of the Sundarbans, its huge biodiversity is facing threats today. And so, without delay, we have to come forward to protect the Sundarbans and increase awareness among the local people. And with these objectives in mind, SESDO is committed to protecting the Sundarbans.
- Project Location
Thinking of the rural poor people, we have bought the locality for this project where the people live regularly fighting poverty. The specific location of this project is given below.
| Country | District | Upazila | Union | Village |
| Bangladesh | Satkhira | Shyamnagar | Gabura | Gabura |
- The significance of the Project
The anticipated long-term impact of the Sundarbans biodiversity conservation project is primarily to protect the integrity of the environment and the biodiversity of the Sundarbans Reserve Forest. Comprising 6,000 square kilometers, the Sundarbans reserve forest is a globally significant ecosystem with a rich biodiversity and natural resources. It is the world’s largest remaining contiguous mangrove area, which also serves as a habitat for a variety of wildlife, including the Bengal tiger. At the same time, the Sundarbans reserve forest affords storm protection to the southwest of Bangladesh and subsistence to about 3.5 million people in 17 subdistricts of the impact zone.
So, it is easy to imagine how much of a blessing the Sundarbans are for us, especially for the people of the southern region. But today, Sundarbans is on the verge of destruction due to some of our multifaceted destructive activities. So now we have to come forward to protect the Sundarbans and take care of its huge resources. So, it can be said that the importance and magnitude of this project are very high.
- Principal Action
The project’s goal was to accomplish long-term sustainable protection of the Sundarbans’ biological diversity.
- Encourage and improve socioeconomic conditions by implementing the proper income generating programs, such as nursery development, homestead plantation, roadside plantation, small trade, poultry and livestock husbandry, fishery, agriculture, etc.;
- Create alternate means of subsistence for the Sundarbans resource user community to lessen the strain on the Sundarbans Reserve Forest;
- Establishment of groups, awareness-raising activities, holding of workshops, meetings;
- Tree Plantation.
Aquaculture has the potential to generate multiple benefits for communities. Supporting fish harvesting groups not only increases fish farmers’ income but also the consumption of nutrient-rich fish.
Wetland habitats support a rich diversity of life, but 35% of the world’s wetlands have disappeared in the last 50 years. Wetland restoration not only increases biodiversity but their ability to produce ecosystem services for the benefit of people. Forested watersheds and wetlands provide 75% of the world’s accessible freshwater.
Revive biodiversity
Improve water supply
Store carbon
Reduce extreme weather
Improve livelihoods
Boost eco-tourism
Enhance well-being
Numerous environmental issues, such as biodiversity loss, are being brought on by deforestation. Previously, rivers, canals, and wells provided 25% of the water needed for irrigation, but these resources are no longer accessible. The country experiences floods, droughts, and excessive rain due to the coastal region’s yearly exposure to sea tides. The World Resources Institute estimates that only 5% of Bangladesh’s total land area is covered in forests, despite the fact that the nation has 10.3% of its land covered in forest, or 1.52 million hectares. Therefore, it is now everyone’s responsibility to plant trees. As a result, it is now necessary for us to raise awareness of the value of tree planting among our local people. Mangrove protection & restoration is an effective Nature based solution to combat climate change.
“Healthy Forests for Healthy People”
Forests give us so much
They purify our water
They clean our air
They fight climate change
They give us food and life-saving medicines
What benefits do people derive from mangroves ??
Mangrove forests are so important for:
fish nurseries, biodiversity, carbon storage, coastal protection, climate change mitigation & adaptation & much more.
list the following contributions to people
wood
tourism
fisheries
livelihoods
water filtration
coastal protection
climate regulation
& mangrove ecosystem services