Sundarbans Mangrove Systems

Sundarbans, a UNESCO heritage site, is the world’s largest single chunk of mangroves distributed on the Indian and Bangladesh coasts. The mangroves and associated ecosystems are one of the most fertile ecosystems of the earth. Sundarbans Mangrove Systems: A Geo-Informatics Approach portrays different perspectives of studying Sundarbans and mangroves using geospatial analysis. This book highlights the major issues with the Sundarbans mangrove forest, its future conservation strategies and its ecological importance using geo-informatics technology. It explains the usage of remote sensing data for providing information about the present state of mangroves and their tropic status, including assessment in terms of extent, density of community, condition, diversity, identifying potential habitats and heterogeneity. Furthermore, it discusses the use of hyperspectral remote sensing data for species level classification of mangroves, community zonation for biodiversity assessment and for preparing management plans for conservation. KEY FEATURES Exclusively covers the ecological state of Sundarbans (mangrove systems) through geo-informatic studies Describes the application of a combination of geomorphological, biogeochemical and remote sensing methods to the analysis of temporal changes Includes environmental factors affecting the health and decline of mangroves Covers biodiversity and ecological controls in mangroves ecosystems Discusses a remote sensing approach for tropical forested island and mangroves mapping This book is aimed at graduate students and researchers in environmental sciences, ecology, marine sciences, biology, geosciences and GIS/remote sensing areas.

Sundarbans, a UNESCO heritage site, is the world’s largest single chunk of mangroves distributed on the Indian and Bangladesh coasts. The mangroves and associated ecosystems are one of the most fertile ecosystems of the earth. Sundarbans Mangrove Systems: A Geo-Informatics Approach portrays different perspectives of studying Sundarbans and mangroves using geospatial analysis. This book highlights the major issues with the Sundarbans mangrove forest, its future conservation strategies and its ecological importance using geo-informatics technology. It explains the usage of remote sensing data for providing information about the present state of mangroves and their tropic status, including assessment in terms of extent, density of community, condition, diversity, identifying potential habitats and heterogeneity. Furthermore, it discusses the use of hyperspectral remote sensing data for species level classification of mangroves, community zonation for biodiversity assessment and for preparing management plans for conservation. KEY FEATURES Exclusively covers the ecological state of Sundarbans (mangrove systems) through geo-informatic studies Describes the application of a combination of geomorphological, biogeochemical and remote sensing methods to the analysis of temporal changes Includes environmental factors affecting the health and decline of mangroves Covers biodiversity and ecological controls in mangroves ecosystems Discusses a remote sensing approach for tropical forested island and mangroves mapping This book is aimed at graduate students and researchers in environmental sciences, ecology, marine sciences, biology, geosciences and GIS/remote sensing areas.

This book is an attempt to acknowledge the discipline ‘wetland science’ and to consolidate research findings, reviews and synthesis articles on different aspects of the wetlands in South Asia. The book presents 30 chapters by an international mix of experts in the field, who highlight and discuss diverse issues concerning wetlands in South Asia as case studies. The chapters are divided into different themes that represent broad issues of concern in a systematic manner keeping in mind students, researchers and general readers at large. The book introduces readers to the basics and theory of wetland science, supplemented by case studies and examples from the region. It also offers a valuable resource for graduate students and researchers in allied fields such as environmental studies, limnology, wildlife biology, aquatic biology, marine biology, and landscape ecology. To date the interdisciplinary field ‘wetland science’ is still rarely treated as a distinct discipline in its own right. Further, courses on wetland science aren’t taught at any of the world’s most prestigious universities; instead, the topics falling under this discipline are generally handled under the disciplines ‘ecology’ or under the extremely broad heading of ‘environmental studies’. It is high time that ‘Wetland Science’ be acknowledged as an interdisciplinary sub-discipline, which calls for an attempt to consolidate its various subtopics and present them comprehensively. Thus, this book also serves as a reference base on wetlands and facilitates further discussions on specific issues involved in safeguarding a sustainable future for the wetland habitats of this region.

This book answers key questions about environment, people and their shared future in deltas. It develops a systematic and holistic approach for policy-orientated analysis for the future of these regions. It does so by focusing on ecosystem services in the world’s largest, most populous and most iconic delta region, that of the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta in Bangladesh. The book covers the conceptual basis, research approaches and challenges, while also providing a methodology for integration across multiple disciplines, offering a potential prototype for assessments of deltas worldwide. Ecosystem Services for Well-Being in Deltas analyses changing ecosystem services in deltas; the health and well-being of people reliant on them; the continued central role of agriculture and fishing; and the implications of aquaculture in such environments.The analysis is brought together in an integrated and accessible way to examine the future of the Ganges Brahmaputra delta based on a near decade of research by a team of the world’s leading scientists on deltas and their human and environmental dimensions. This book is essential reading for students and academics within the fields of Environmental Geography, Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy focused on solving the world’s most critical challenges of balancing humans with their environments. This book is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This book aims to give a holistic overview of the pond ecosystem of Indian Sundarbans. Due to climate change, the Indian Sundarbans faces several challenges. With rising sea levels, islands are disappearing and the increasing salinity in the water and soil has severely threatened the health of mangrove forests and the quality of fresh water, soil and crops. Additionally, there have been serious disturbances to hydrological parameters in the lotic as well lentic ecosystems. This book provides new insights into lentic ecosystem-oriented research in the deltaic ecosystem of GBM-I (Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna, Indian Delta). The major findings from various research works are brought together, and the gaps and future possible ways forward are outlined. The book addresses the SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 14 (Life below Water), with a focus on the ecosystem services of ponds in the Indian Sundarbans. Despite there being many studies on riverine water, ground water and mangrove ecosystems of the Indian Sundarbans, this book offers new insights into the pond ecosystem of the Indian Sundarbans. The outcomes from this book can be utilized by researchers from the inland fisheries sector, environmental managers, professionals, and those who seek to develop ways for making pond ecosystems sustainable.

This book explores the Sundarbans eco-region from a trans-boundary perspective, examining the cross-country interaction that helps planners to develop more efficient coastal zone planning for the delta. The dynamic ecosystem of the Sundarbans is considered the largest coastal delta in the world. It is located in the Bay of Bengal and spans across Bangladesh and West Bengal (India). Featuring chapters by experts from a range of fields, it addresses (i) risk factor analyses, and the geohydrological, climatic, natural, socio-economic, and anthropological factors related to the Sundarbans; (ii) strategies for sustainability in natural resource management in trans-boundary Sundarbans, cutting across political boundaries; (iii) improved agriculture, fisheries, and forestry practices and their impacts on the socio-economy for livelihood security; and (iv) a future road map for improvements. This book will be of value to those working in academia, as well as to experts and professionals in coastal zone planning and management.

This is the first comprehensive science-based primer to highlight the unique ecosystem services provided by mangrove forests, and discuss how these services preserve the livelihoods of coastal populations. The book presents three decades of real-time data on Sundarbans and Bhitarkanika mangroves in India measuring carbon and nitrogen sequestration, as well as case studies that demonstrate the utility provided by mangroves for reducing the impact of storms and erosion, providing nutrient retention for complex habitats, and housing a vast reservoir of plant, animal and microbial biodiversity. Also addressed is the function of mangroves as natural ecosystems of cultural convergence, offering the resources and products necessary for thriving coastal communities. The book will be of interest to students, academics and researchers in the fields of oceanography, marine biology, botany, climate science, ecology and environmental geography, as well as consultants and policy makers working in coastal zone management and coastal biodiversity conservation.

The book provides an up-to-date account of mangrove forests from Asia, together with restoration techniques, and the management requirements of these ecosystems to ensure their sustainability and conservation. All aspects of mangroves and their conservation are critically re-examined. The book is divided into three sections presenting the distribution and status of mangrove ecosystems in Asia, the challenges they are facing, their issues and opportunities, and the management strategies for their conservation.