- Population pressure in Bangladesh is severe, large areas of the forest have been cleared to provide more space for agriculture and settlement e.g. 1000 inhabit every km².
Threats
- Several risks threaten the Sundarbans:
- Climate change causing sea levels are rising at 3mm a year, cause flooding of low lying delta land.
- Abstraction of water has resulted in a 40% reduction in flow leading to increased salinity of the land and water.
- Deforestation such as in the Himalayas leading to greater volumes of silt being deposited by rivers.
- Three million people live in small villages.
- Fishing camps are a major disturbance in the area, with some illegal hunting and trapping of species such as turtles.
- Water pollution such as the Khulna aquatic wildlife badly affected.
- Natural disasters such as 2007 a cyclone killed 3,000 people and most of the larger trees were uprooted.
Flora and Fauna
- The Sundarbans consists of a vast network of rivers, mudflats and islands which are vegetated by mangroves of salt tolerant trees, act as natural buffers against storm surges and protect the land from tropical cyclones which occur during the summer monsoon season.
- Endangered predators in this eco-region such as the Royal Bengal tiger estimated at 350.
Management
- There are seven conservation areas, including three wildlife sanctuaries.
- Under the wildlife act of 1974 it is illegal to cultivate the land within the conservation areas or to introduce domestic animals.
- There is not enough staff or structures in place to enforce the law.
- The threats to the area require more cross border cooperation with India as well as financial support.
- Plans must include a high degree of local community involvement to allow sustainable use of the forest.