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The Sundarban Region having a total area of 9630 Sq. Kms.
is located in the
estuarine phase of Ganga-Brahmaputra River on the edge
of Bay of Bengal. This region
includes:
• 444,000 ha. of non-protected inhabited area in 19
community development blocks
- 13 in South & 6 in North 24-Parganas District.
• 426,400 ha of Sundarban Mangrove Forest completely
protected and consisting of :
(i) The Sundarban Tiger Reserve (STR);
(ii) The Sundarban National Park (SNP) which is also
designated as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO;
(iii) The wildlife Sanctuaries of Sajnekhali, Lothian and
Holiday;
(iv) The Reserve Forest West of Matla River.
The importance and contribution of the environmental and
natural resources of
Sundarban are well recognized throughout the World. The
Sundarban Mangrove Forest
is also of direct importance to a large proportion of
the almost 4 million inhabitants. They
largely depend on the natural resources of the mangrove
forest for numerous basic needs
and also on environmental resources like dean water,
flora and fauna for their livelihood.
This also protects from various natural hazards like
cyclones and tropical storms. |
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A total
number of 61 mangroves and more than 600 animals’
species have been enumerated in the Indian Sundarban
Mangrove Forest of which a good number are classified as
rare and endangered. This ecosystem is also home to a
number of globally threatened species such as Royal
Bengal Tiger, estuarine crocodile, dolphins and variety
of migratory and resident bird species.
In spite of its global importance and recognition,
Indian Sundarban is facing serious threat of
vulnerability aspects. The vulnerability of local
communities relating to cyclone exposure and flooding due to storms and embankment failures.
Strengthening and
maintenance of 3500 kms. river embankments in Sundarban
has posed a serious
problem relating to the very existence of its habitants. |
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