Sandra Reinstädtler

Challenges of climate change impacts on urban water quality management and planning in coastal towns of Bangladesh

The Bangladesh coastal zone is the lowest lying zone in the world where 36 million people are living within 1 metre elevation from high tide level. The coastal ecosystem is supporting more than 15% of the total population of the country, is under varying degrees of environmental threats due to anthropogenic and climate change impacts. The clean coastal urban drinking water supply is now a crucial problem in the coastal Bangladesh; where almost 11 million people live in the coastal urban areas. The shortage of upstream fresh water supply, the global warming and climate impacts are the new threats for urban water supply management and planning of 136 towns. Almost 34 towns are severely affected by saline water intrusion. Therefore, climate awareness and applied research should be initiated to change the attitude of the people. The objective of this paper is to understand the impacts of climate change on urban water supply as well as management and planning of small towns in the coastal region of Bangladesh.

Invasive Species in the Sundarbans Coastal Zone (Bangladesh) in Times of Climate Change: Chances and Threats

The Sundarbans mangrove forests, wetlands and their native as well as invasive plant species are lying within the Bangladesh coastal region, which is gifted with vast natural resources, a delta, tidal flat, mangrove forests, marches, lagoons, bars, spilt, estuaries and coastal ecological environment. These habitats, biotopes and ecosystems also serve as habitat for especially four dominant tree species of the Sundarbans, the Sundri (Heritiera fomes), Gewa (Excoecaria agallocha), (Ceriops decandra) and (Sonneratia apetala). But the existence of these and many more native species is endangered. The Sundarbans species are threatened by various natural and anthropogenic pressures including climate change. So the native species are approximately decreasing significantly by the year 2100 due to sea level rise (88 cm) in the Sundarbans area compared to the year 2001.There 23 invasive species, which belong to 18 families and 23 genera. These species are highly invasive, six species are moderately invasive and the remaining are potentially invasive. From the 23 invasive species only four are exotic or alien. The disturbances may arrest succession at any stage and contribute to the biological invasion of invasive plants. The within these biodiversity hotspots and vast natural or coastal water resources lying potential for communities survival and 36.8 million dependent people are some of the strongly pending managing demands next to existing Natural World Heritage Sites’ already existing protective management support to be discussed in this chapter. As with the coastal natural resources drastically reduction due to unplanned use by community and stakeholders, also the Sundarbans mangrove forests, wetlands and their species are vastly affected through these developments and the most important observation for vulnerability aspects and maximum possible amplitudes is coming up, which has been investigated in within this research and chapter. Also the present situation stated that an integrated natural resource management plan is necessary for the protection of the mangrove coastal ecosystem.

Assessment and Management Strategies of Mangrove Forests Alongside the Mangsalut River Basin (Brunei Darussalam, on the Island of Borneo)

The benefits derived from mangrove forest wetland ecosystems are garnering increasing attention in coastal ecological research and mangrove forest management planning. However, because of their location, climate change issues, land use, and landscapes, coastal mangroves are vulnerable and suffer varying levels of stress and disturbance. There is often a variable and uncertain relationship between vulnerability and ecosystem structure and functional services. Degradation and vulnerability assessment and analysis can provide strategic planning initiatives with valuable insight into the processes of functional change resulting from management intervention. The study was conducted on the mangrove management and degradation situation in Brunei Darussalam. The mangrove forest covers about 4% of the country land area and has been recognized as one of the virgin management zones in the Asia Pacific region, but the present status and climate change impacts are degrading the coastal mangrove ecosystem. In addition, urbanization, settlement development, and industrial development contribute to the degradation. This study seeks the strategic management plan for the protection of coastal mangrove wetlands ecosystem in Brunei Darussalam.

Vulnerability of Mangrove Forests and Wetland Ecosystems in the Sundarbans Natural World Heritage Site (Bangladesh)

The Sundarbans Natural World Heritage Site is lying within the Bangladesh coastal region, which is gifted with vast natural resources, a delta, tidal flat, mangrove forests, marches, lagoons, bars, spilt, estuaries and coastal ecological environment. These habitats, biotopes and ecosystems also serve as potential resources for anthropogenic communities: 36.8 million people are living within the coastal region of Bangladesh and being dependent on coastal water resources, for which the Sundarbans Natural World Heritage Site is giving some protective management support. Nevertheless the natural coastal resources are drastically reducing due to unplanned use by the community and the stakeholders, although the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Rivers are carrying 6 million m3/s water. As a result, the Sundarbans mangrove forests and wetlands are vastly affected through these developments. The present situation demands that an integrated natural resource management plan is necessary for the protection of the mangrove coastal ecosystem. This chapter was prepared based on primary and secondary data sources, as the objectives were to analyze the present coastal mangrove natural resources management status. The study investigates the deltaic Sundarbans natural world heritage site with its mangrove forests and wetlands ecosystem development and management strategies to ensure less vulnerability and a sustainable development of coastal mangrove resources in the Ganges-Brahmaputra Rivers deltaic coastal floodplain region of Bangladesh.

Degraded Coastal Wetland Ecosystems in the Ganges-Brahmaputra Rivers Delta Region of Bangladesh

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 natural resource management plan is necessary for the protection of coastal ecosystem and coastal community livelihoods. The paper prepared based on primary and secondary data sources. The objectives of this study are to analyze the present coastal natural resources management status. The study seeks the deltaic wetlands ecosystem development and management strategies for ensure communities livelihood and sustainable development of coastal resources in Ganges-Brahmaputra Rivers deltaic coastal floodplain region in Bangladesh.