Toward sustainable conservation plan for fragile ecosystem in indian sunderban

Abstract

Indian Sunderban, part of the three river delta system and the world’s largest contiguous mangrove ecosystem is world heritage site with unique flora and fauna. It is also home for four and half million people living in acute poverty and developmental deficit, relying mostly on biological productivity of the land and related ecosystem. A conflict prevails between resource utilization, survival strategies of desperate poor people and protection of ecosystem in its natural state. There are many developmental and management related issues to be resolved apart from the ecological ones. The ecosystem of the region is in deep crisis for a number of historical and anthropogenic reasons including global climate change. A more sustainable path has to be achieved. The paper attempts to identify the key factors behind biodiversity loss adding to the vulnerability of livelihood of its residents through PRA technique and traces the ways and means for reducing the same in the form of comprehensive policy of biosphere management through community participation of the residents. The research is carried out using Participatory Rural Appraisal technique and points out the ways and means for reducing the level of vulnerability in the form of comprehensive policy of biosphere management through community participation.