Coastal sustainability assessment of the sundarbans using the circles of coastal sustainability (CCS) framework: a comparative analysis between India and Bangladesh

Deb, Ankur

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/19861

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Authors

Deb, Ankur

Advisor(s)

Newton, Alice

Ramachandran, Purvaja

Abstract(s)

The Sundarbans, part of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) delta, comprises one of the largest continuous tracts of mangrove wetland areas in the world and faces an increasing threat from environmental and socio-economic problems like climate change and loss of livelihoods. These issues weigh on the millions of people who depend directly or indirectly on the services provided by the delta. The complications are further magnified by the transboundary nature of governance in the region shared between India and Bangladesh. The Circles of Coastal Sustainability (CCS) framework was utilized to analyze the coastal system using the four interdependent boundary domains of Environment and Ecology, Social and Cultural, Economics, and Governance and Policy. The Indian, as well as Bangladesh side, scored an overall Satisfactory score. But on a country-scale comparison, India looked more vulnerable than Bangladesh due to its poor sustainability scores on environmental grounds. The sustainability statuses and management needs differ for different indicators, but in general, there were more areas of concern as opposed to areas of no concern. The identified pressures on the whole biogeographic system included lack of efficiency and accountability of the government, intensification of cyclones, sea-level rise, coastal erosion, high poverty, lack of dignified and sufficient work, and the lack of basic amenities. But further ground-based due diligence is necessary. On an indicator level, a comparative analysis between the two countries showed that India scored poorly for the Environment and Ecology and Social and Cultural domains as compared to Bangladesh. Whereas the opposite is true for the Economics and Governance and Policy domains. The nature of the ecosystem due to its presence as a single biogeographic entity presents a burning need for joint co-operation through transboundary governance. Building on the elemental sustainability scores and the data repository compilation for Sundarbans, this study can act as an excellent starting point to inform bilateral collaboration and more effective transboundary governance between the two countries in the future.