ECONOMIC DEPLETION OF THE SUNDERBANS: A NEED FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION

This article examines the growing problem of the economic depletion of the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, and makes a strong case for the need for regional cooperation between Bangladesh and India for its sustainable management. It identifies the major drivers of the forest's degradation, including over-exploitation of resources, increased salinity due to reduced upstream freshwater flow, pollution, and the impacts of climate change. The study analyzes the profound economic consequences of this depletion, both for the livelihoods of the millions of people who depend directly on the forest and for the national economies of both countries. The research argues that since the Sundarbans is a single, contiguous ecosystem that straddles an international border, unilateral national efforts to conserve it are insufficient. The paper concludes by calling for the establishment of a robust bilateral or regional mechanism for the joint management and conservation of this unique and invaluable world heritage site.

The Sundarbans mangrove forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site shared by Bangladesh and India, is facing a severe crisis of economic and ecological depletion. This paper provides a detailed analysis of this crisis and argues that only a concerted, cooperative regional approach can save it. The study begins by documenting the immense economic value of the Sundarbans, not only for the timber and fisheries it provides, but also for its crucial role as a natural barrier against cyclones and tidal surges. The core of the article is an examination of the multiple threats that are leading to its rapid degradation. These include unsustainable harvesting of timber and other forest products, the encroachment of commercial shrimp farming, and pollution from industrial and shipping activities. A key focus is the impact of reduced freshwater flow from the upstream Ganges river system, which is leading to a dramatic increase in salinity and threatening the health of the entire ecosystem. The central argument of the paper is that the transboundary nature of the Sundarbans ecosystem makes unilateral conservation efforts fundamentally inadequate. The findings lead to a strong call for enhanced regional cooperation between Bangladesh and India. The paper outlines the potential elements of such a cooperative framework, including joint scientific research, coordinated management plans, and collaborative efforts to combat smuggling and illegal exploitation of resources. The paper concludes that the sustainable management of the Sundarbans should be treated as a shared responsibility and a top priority for bilateral relations.