Coastal Environmental Degradation and Ecosystem Management in the Ganges Deltaic Region in Bangladesh

Abstract

The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Rivers carry 6 million m³/s water and 2.4 billion tons of sediments annually into the Bay of Bengal, but it shows no tendency toward rapid seaward progradation. Bangladesh coastal region is gifted with vast natural resources, delta, tidal flat, mangrove forests, march, lagoon, bars, spilt, estuary and coastal ecological environment which is very much potential for communities survival. There are 36.8 million people are living within the coastal region and dependent on coastal water resources. The coastal water resources are drastically reducing due to unplanned use by the community and the stakeholders. The coastal zone of Bangladesh is enormously important for the development and management of natural resources. The coastal water resources are playing an important role to protect the coastal ecosystems and socio-economy. The present situation stated that an integrated coastal environmental and water resource management plan is necessary for the protection of ecology and coastal livelihoods. The paper prepared based on primary and secondary data sources. The objectives of this study are to analyze the present coastal water resources and environmental sustainable management status. The study seeks the coastal environmental protection and water resource development and management strategies for ensure communities livelihood and sustainable development of Ganges deltaic coastal environment in Bangladesh.