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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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SUNDERBAN |
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| General Description |
This biosphere reserve is located in the vast Delta of the Ganges, south of Calcutta and bordering Bangladesh in the east. Sunderban is the largest contiguous mangrove area (along with Bangladesh) in the world. It represents the largest mangal diversity in the world with 81 mangal plant species and it provides habitat for the threatened Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). The core area (Sunderban National Park) has been designated as a World Heritage site. The entire Eastern India is dependent on the fishery resources from Sunderban. Some three million people live in the biosphere reserve (2001). They depend directly on forest and forest-based resources since agriculture is not productive enough due to saline water. Sales of timber, fuel wood, thatching leaves, honey and wax are the main sources of income. Due to demographic pressures, the Sunderban is under great stress and therefore an eco-development programme is envisaged based on a highly participative approach of the local communities. Emphasis is given to schemes that generate additional income and economic security to people, such as mangrove forest management, animal husbandry, popularisation of energy alternatives, habitat improvement, aquaculture, honey and wax culture, development of crafts and education. |
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| Major ecosystem type | Tropical humid forest; Mangroves | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Coastal/marine area including mangrove such as Avicennia alba, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Ceriops tagal, Rhizophora apiculata etc.; tropical semi-evergreen forest; agroecosystems; silviculture, pisciculture; prawn culture | |||
| Location | 21°30' to 22°15'N; 88°10' to 89°10'E | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 963,000 | |||
| Core area(s) | 169,200 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | 223,300 | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | 570,500 | |||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | +6 to +9 | |||
| Year designated | 2001 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Chief Conservator of Forest and Director of Biosphere Reserve, reporting to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest | |||
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| Brief description |
Water and soil characteristics of estuaries Mechanism of siltation in the tidal river system Soil related problems and fertility of coastal soils Diversity of flora and fauna Studies on algal flora Medicinal values of mangrove species Plankton composition and its population density Socio-economic status and dependency ration of the rural population on the fishery resources of Sunderban |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | Hydrology, siltation/sedimentation, soil. | |||
| Biodiversity | Algae, biodiversity, coastal/marine, fauna, flora, mangrove, natural medicinal products, plankton, population genetics/population dynamics. | |||
| Socio-economic | Fishery/Fisheries, social/socio-economic aspects. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | Rural systems. | |||
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| Contact address |
Ministry of Environment and Forests Paryvaran Bhavan - C.G.O. Complex - Lodhi Road 110 003 New Delhi India |
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| Telephone | (91.11) 436 4593 | |||
| Fax | (91.11) 436 2551 | |||
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pccfwl@vsnl.com |
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| Last updated: 27/09/2001 |
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