Sundarban

(Bengali: সুন্দরবন, Shundorbôn) is the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world. The name Sundarban can be accurately translated as "beautiful jungle" or "beautiful forest" . The name may have been derived from the ‘Sundari’ trees that are found in Sundarbans in huge numbers. on the other hand, it has been proposed that the name is a corruption of Samudraban or Chandra-bandhe (name of a primitive tribe). But the generally accepted view is the one associated with Sundari trees. The forest covers 10,000 sq.km. of which about 6,000 are in Bangladesh. It became inscribed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1997. The Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans is estimated to be about 4,110 km², of which about 1,700 km² is occupied by water bodies in the forms of river, canals and creeks of width varying from a few meters to several kilometers. The Sundarbans has a population of over 4 million, but much of it is mostly free of permanent human habitation.
In addition to traditional forest produce like timber, fuel wood, pulpwood etc., large scale harvest of non wood forest products such as thatching materials, honey, bees-wax, fish, and crustacean and mollusk resources of the forest takes place regularly. Constituting 51% of the total reserved forest estate of Bangladesh it contributes about 41% of total forest revenue and accounts for about 45% of all timber and fuel wood output of the country (FAO 1995).

Forest in Bangladesh

Forest sector is a very important sector in Bangladesh. The economy of Bangladesh is mainly depending on the forest. Every year Bangladesh earn a huge quantity money from this sector. Bangladesh is located on the second biggest river organization in the world, which drains an area of 1,086,000 square kilometers from China, Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. This single location results in annual flooding of about 50% of the country's land area. At 150 million people and growing, gaps in policy, and incompatible institutional mandates, 90% of Bangladesh's natural forests and 50% of its fresh-water wetlands are gone or tainted.
USAID's assistance focuses on conservation of natural resources and expanding broad-based economic opportunities. USAID has developed a model that devolves environmental management to local communities, whose lives are directly or indirectly dependent on natural capital. USAID sponsored co-management projects have created a successful model of co-management in freshwater ecosystems and forests, but have had a relatively modest geographic coverage. USAID's goal over the next five years is to achieve recognition and acceptance of the co-management approach by the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) and integration of co-management into the government's management tactics. Integrated activities will result in:

 Development of a co-management plan that applies to all ecosystems, including those slight freshwater and forest ecosystems;
 Over 50 protected areas managed with USAID support openly benefiting two and a half million people;
 GOB support to share park fees with limited communities to finance conservation efforts and support eco-friendly jobs development and
 Additional 350,000 hectares co-managed by communities and the GOB.

Wildlife of Bangladesh

The greater part of the human population lives in or roughly huge cities and this has helped to maximum deforestation to some extent. Rather, the development rate continues to increase at an alarming rate and this has placed large demands on the environment and lead to consequent clearing of several natural habitats. Though several areas are protected under law, a large part of Bangladeshi wildlife is threatened by this development. Bangladesh is home to almost 22 species of amphibian, 17 species of marine reptiles, 109 species of reptile, 388 species of birds, 110 species of mammals and 3 species of marine mammals. In addition to the large bird count, a further 240 species of traveling birds swell bird facts each year. The huge majority of these creatures at present inhabit in an area of land that is some 150 000 sq kilometers in size! This is a remarkable achievement to say the least. Moreover, this does not mean all is well with the country’s natural heritage. So far a quantity of creatures have gone completely from the country and a further 201 species are in danger The dholes, Asiatic wild dog is now rare by habitat and preying species loss and human harassment. Notable species that have departed from Bangladesh are the one-horned Rhinoceros, the two-horned Rhinoceros, the Gaur, the Banteng, Hog deer and swamp deer, Indian Wolf, marsh crocodile and wild buffalo. Generally, such great losses will frequently outcome the atmosphere to a greater or lesser degree and result in environmental imbalances.