Context
Experts from India and Bangladesh believe that climate change triggered loss and damage in the Sundarbans, should be seen as a “global commons”.
What are Global commons?
- They are areas and their potential economic resources that lie beyond national jurisdiction (high sea, atmosphere, Antarctica and outer space) and to which all nations have access.
- Conventions and treaties to govern global commons include United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, Antarctic Treaty System, Treaty on Principles governing Activities of States in Exploration and Use of Outer etc.
About Sundarbans
- Sundarbans – Largest mangrove forests in the world
- A complex network of rivers and low-lying islands that face a tide surge twice a day.
- Location – Delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers on the Bay of Bengal.
- Coverage – 40% of Sundarbans lies in India and the rest in Bangladesh.
- It is home to Tigers (Sundarban Tiger Reserve) and a number of other rare and threatened species such as Irrawaddy Dolphin, fishing cat etc
- Mangrove ecosystem is a very specialised environment occurring in between the land and the sea in the tropical and subtropical regions.
- Species found – Estuarine crocodile, water monitor lizard, Gangetic dolphin and olive ridley turtle.
- Recognitions –
- UNESCO World Heritage site
- Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention
- Threats: Vulnerable to floods, earthquakes, cyclones, sea-level rise and coastline erosion.
International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem is celebrated every year on 26 July and aims to raise awareness of the importance of mangrove ecosystems as “a unique, special and vulnerable ecosystem” and to promote solutions for their sustainable management, conservation and uses.
Mangrove Cover in India
- According to the Indian State Forest Report 2021, Mangrove cover in India is 4992 sq. Km which is 0.15% of the country’s total geographical area.
- Among the states and Union Territories, West Bengal has the highest percentage of area under total Mangrove cover followed by Gujarat and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- Other areas with mangrove ecosystem – Andaman region, the Kachchh and Jamnagar areas in Gujarat etc.
Source: Down to Earth
Previous Year Question
Consider the following pairs:
Wetland/Lake: Location
1. Hokera Wetland: Punjab
2. Renuka Wetland: Himachal Pradesh
3. Rudrasagar Lake: Tripura
4. Sasthamkotta Lake: Tamil Nadu
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]
(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) Only three pairs
(d) All four pairs
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Hokera Wetland is located in the northwest Himalayan biogeographic province of Kashmir, the back of the snow-draped Pir Panchal. Hence, Pair 1 is not correctly matched.
Sasthamkotta Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala, situated in the Kollam district. Hence, Pair 4 is not correctly matched.
