Establishing Joint Media Platform for Sundarban

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1 Public Disclosure Authorized

Establishing Joint Media Platform for Sundarban February 27, 2019 Public Disclosure Authorized It is a part of Activities of Bangladesh India Sundarban Region Cooperation Initiative (BI - SRCI) Public Disclosure Authorized Discussion Draft

PreparedFinal Report for and on behalf of BISRCI Public Disclosure Authorized 2

Contents

BISRCI Background………………………………………………………………………………….3 of Objectives……………………………………………………………………………………3

Status vis-à-vis Activities / Deliverables…………………………………………………4 - 12

Way Forward ………………………………………………………………………behalf 13 Draft Annexures on

Annexure I - Report on Media Exposure trips to Trans boundary Sundarban ………………………14- 127

Annexure II- Details of Publicationsand ……………………………………………………………12 8- 211

Annexure III- Primaryfor Draft on Joint Media Platform………………………………………. 212- 220

Annexure IV Recent Stories onDiscussion Sundarban in major media platform …………………….221 - 222

Prepared

Background

Trans-boundary Sundarban generally receives media attention only when a natural disaster strikes, an oil filled tanker submerges or counting of about tigers begin. According to a media research carried out by nonprofit EnGIO, the coverage of Sundarban by the mainstream media in Bangladesh, India and across the world is dominated by issues related to the Royal Bengal Tiger (16%) and impact of storm events such as cyclones (21%). In comparison there has been much less media focus on critical issues related to climate change vulnerability and climate adaptation vis-à-vis human development in the area. Moreover there has also been hardly any media effort to highlight the importance of undertaking collaborative transboundary action to ensure survival of Sundarban. Most importantly the survival of about 13 million people in and around Sundarban also rarely comes under media scanner at a benchmark to the likes ofBISRCI Phillipines, Maldives, or Caribbean islands though the potential impact, especially in terms of population vulnerability, is many times greater in Sundarban. All these seem to have a hinderingof influence – albeit indirect – on the policy and execution process of respective national, regional and local governments and administrations; which, in turn, further enhances the risk at ground level. To break this pattern, undertaking a proper media communication strategy vis-à-vis transboundary Sundarban was considered to be an immensely important step to facilitate developing a holistic sustainable development blueprint for Sundarban with the inbuilt consideration of climatic changes. With this broad premise in contention,behalf several formal and informal media interactions have been undertaken by EnGIO with help of other stakeholdersDraft since 2015 under the aegis of the assignment from the World Bank leadingon to the present assignment under SAWI (South Asian Water Initiative) which mandates organization of multi-stakeholder dialogue and consultation with an overall aim to facilitate an enabling media environment for a cooperative transboundary interface. Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Environment Governed Integrated Organisation (EnGIO) and The Third andPole have been asked to execute the assignment jointly with specific responsibilities. This Final Reportfor attempts to share what has been achieved under the assignment in context to the objectives with which it wasDiscussion undertaken . Objectives

The assigned media engagement is outlined below with five specific activities / deliverables;

1. Formulation of Strategy for facilitating media collaboration on Sundarban 2. Setting up and running of an Interactive and Collaborative Sundarban website and Prepared related social media tools 3. Training cum Exposure Media trips in Transboundary Sundarban 4. Facilitating finalization of specific collaborative media proposals and rolling out activity on ground 5. Provision of Sundarban Media Fellowships

Status vis-à-vis Activities / Deliverables

Objective 1 : Formulation of Strategy for facilitating media collaboration on Sundarban (Responsibility with EnGIO)

The Strategy Undertaken

• Understanding and identifying the process and dynamics of possible media collaboration within official and private media • Understanding and identifying the actors (including NGOs /BISRCI CBOs in communication sector) in possible media collaborations including transboundaryof media • Understanding and identifying the possible collaboration areas / subjects / issues in print, audio visual and web media • Facilitating the process of preparing collaborative proposals behalf Status Draft on • Several rounds of discussions were held in both Bangladesh and India involving senior media persons of various media houses and leading journalists covering particularly environment and climate change on the issue; as well as informally at the sidelines of the joint media trips inand transboundary Sundarban (details under Objective 3). In general, all have agreed that such a collaboration – and particularly a Joint Media Platform on Sundarban - is highly required in context to holistic covering and news coverage of trans boundaryfor Sundarban, both in terms of qualitative and quantitative coverage, but various issues cropped up during the discussions about the structure, objective, scale, drivers including financialDiscussion and sustainability of such an endeavor.

• EnGIO has earlier drafted an Outline Media Plan for trans boundary Sundarban; which had been discussed at various meeting of Bangladesh India Sundarban Region Collaboration Initiative (BISRCI) and broadly accepted. As a matter of fact , the ongoing assignment is based on the stated plan. Prepared • Based on the discussion with number of journalists and stakeholders over last last few years, EnGIO has prepared a final draft on possible formation and structure of Joint Media Platform on Sundarban, and the same has been circulated within over fifty journalists of two countries almost in equal proportion in two countries including editorial level ones. Emphasis has been given to reach those journalists who had been involved

with the progranmme at some times or another. While some feedbacks have been already received, we await others. Once all the feedbacks are obtained, the draft of the platform will be finalized on basis of the same . Once that document will be in place , another round of consultations will be held to cater to the formation of such platform, if possible. The final draft has been shared under Annexure III.

Remark

After a detailed analysis of the inputs received from wide range of interactions of media stakeholders in two countries ; the following findings have been made.

While media of two countries broadly have no opposition in principle in having a collaborative initiative on Sundarban discourse ; there are BISRCIfew issues which prove hindrances to formalization of such efforts , and will continue to do so unless the bone of contentions are taken care of. Firstly the scale of priorities as well as target audience, and also often agendas, are different in two countries; and ofhence trans-boundary outputs are not encouraged in editorial policy. Moreover there are legalities involved in such relationships which media houses do not consider worth take plunging. However it was found that few media houses are open to carry transboundary stories if independent wellknown journalists prepare such outputs under any assignment. On the otherhand media houses may consider taking behalfcollaborative transboundary stories, if the same is directly supported by funds / recognitions under the auspices of major multinationals like World Bank. However it was found web portalsDraft are more receptive to such collaborative transboundary outputs. on As for other actors like NGOs / CBOs in communication sector, their reach may be niched but can have high penetration and same may be expanded with focused support. Moreover relationshipand between major NGOs/ CBOs and exclusive media outfits can also be explored. for Objective 2 : SettingDiscussion up of an Interactive and Collaborative Sundarban website and its continuation (Responsibility with ORF , EnGIO and The Third Pole)

The Strategy Undertaken

Prepared• The website will be interactive and trilingual (content will be mainly in English and Bengali while some will be in Hindi as well).

• The website will not only target the people at large and particularly stakeholders in West Bengal, India and Bangladesh but also the national and international audience.

• The development of the website – structure, style and spread – will be finalized with appropriate expert inputs.

• The editorial policy will be finalized after considering inputs from partners / advisors to the assignment as well as members of BISRCI

• The website will be geospecific; for example, anyone opening the website in Bangladesh will get to see the Bengali version by default; this is expected to make it more user friendly and acceptable.

• The website will position itself as an extended web-magazine on transboundary Sundarban containing both secondary and primary news / information, data, opinions / blogs special article on Sundarban, interviews, still photo and videoBISRCI etc.

• The contents will be generated through a process of collaborationof with mainstream media, local media, local NGOs, academic and research organizations, appropriate government departments etc.

• A dedicated team of media professionals will maintain the website on a regular basis.

• The website, once it settles down, willbehalf be linked to appropriate stakeholders, state and non-state actors, so that it becomes a platformDraft for transboundary Sundarban related awareness, action and alternatives.on • The website will be regularly updated as detailed earlier, both content wise and technically. and Table 1: Roles & responsibilities to setting up the Website have been defined for ORF, EnGIO & The Third Pole below: for Roles & Responsibilities for Running the Website a) For b)Discussion For c) For d) For e) For f) For Content Content Translation Promotional selection & Coordination Uploading & (Trilingual) Activities on supervision of among assigned Generation/ Partner Management Social the provided team members for Organisatio Developme Media & content to be a), b), c), d) & e) ns nt and Search uploaded activities appropriate Engine including Preparednews item Optimisatio technical experts capture n /programmers of website ORF Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes (Hindi)

EnGIO Yes Yes Yes (Bengali) The Third Yes Yes Pole

Status

• As per the strategy adopted and mentioned earlier, the design and nature of content of website has been finalized after due agreement of partners involved as well as BISRCI members. Discussions were held in both India – Kolkata and Delhi – and Bangladesh involving specialized journalists and other experts on Sundarban.BISRCI • As for content development, a dedicated team in EnGIO has been working long to develop, collate and dig out relevant news items in both ofSundarban ; both at mainstream level and local level. Discussions were held at Govt of India level, Govt of Bangladesh level and Govt f West Bengal level vis-à-vis the website; and the responses are most encouraging . The EnGIO team has prepared lot of contents – text as well as photo materials - to be uploaded in website and make the website live subject to necessary approval as mandated under the agreement.behalf The site will also include write ups as generated under the assignment after undertakingDraft necessary formalities as per the norm. • Both India & Bangladesh Environment Minister & West Bengal Sundarban affair ministers have been spoken toon in the context and we expect to use and utilize their formal inputs in the website content. • The portal is ready to go live and already the entire content (English) has been completed, uploaded and sentand to key stakeholders of BISRCI. Based on the inputs received, the portal structure & content may be marginally modified. The Bengali version is also ready to be uploadedfor once the final feedback is received on English version.

Remark Discussion

The idea of the transboundary Sundarban portal has received good response from most of the stakeholders including the non media ones. The governments of two countries also showed keen interest in the process. According to Sundarban stakeholders and experts, the portal should act as one stop platform of all kind of news, research etc about transboundary Sundarban and become the pivot of joint action on Sundarban facilitated Preparedby Bangladesh India Sundarban Region Cooperation Initiative (BISRCI). EnGIO has also spoken to various media houses across the countries and they showed keen interest to carry contents of the portal once it becomes live, after due respective editorial clearances.

Objective 3: Training cum Exposure media trips in transboundary Sundarban (Responsibility with EnGIO)

The Strategy Undertaken • The activity will be undertaken in collaboration with media houses / focused media association (Press Clubs etc) who will spare the journalists for the programs apart from publishing / broadcasting articles/ audiovisual content as generated through the activities of the assignment, subject to editorial clearance. (Around 30 articles/ audio video content will be generated including India and Bangladesh from the field study)

• About 20 persons including around 10 journalists and 10 others (subject experts, media experts and organizers) will be involved in each program BISRCI

• The journalists will be selected from both mainstream mediaof as well as local media based on their track record of journalistic coverage, media attachment etc. after due consideration of views of partners / advisors

• Academic, technical and media experts will facilitate the exercise. behalf • The Indian part of the trip will be tentatively as follows: Day 1 - Seminar Mode in Kolkata / Sundarban, Day II and III - Field visitDraft in Sundarban and exposure to various situations before leaving for /viaon Kolkata

• The Bangladesh part of the trip will be tentatively as follows: Day 1 - Seminar Mode in Mongla, Day II and III - Field visit in Sundarban and exposure to various situations before leaving forand /via Mongla/ Khulna

Status for • This activity has beenDiscussion fully completed as per the strategy designed and the detail of the event is mentioned under Annexure I. • Overall about 40 journalists and experts from two countries participated in two Sundarban trips in India and Bangladesh. • More than 40 media outputs have been published / telecast since the trips based on the Preparedexposure accessed by journalists in two trips as mentioned under Annexure II.

Remark The exposure trips had proved extremely useful in terms of exposure to various situations on ground and served as the catalyst to series of Sundarban related media coverage over

last one year. On basis of outputs received vis-à-vis the trips, the endevour has to be accepted as extremely successful. However in future the structure of the trips may be partially tweaked to ensure more transboundary media outputs.

Objective 4 : Facilitating finalization of specific collaborative media proposals and rolling out activity on ground (Responsibility with EnGIO)

The Strategy Undertaken BISRCI • Facilitating to operationalize the existing MoU between India & Bangladesh on mutual broadcast television programs vis-à-vis Sundarban. of • Explore whether government and private media houses can share content on Sundarban in the two countries like the‘Satya Meba Jayate’ model. • Facilitating finalization of transboundary linkage between audio-visual media houses on telecasting Sundarban based programs (broadcast around 15 programs) • Facilitating finalization of transboundarybehalf collaboration between print media houses on publishing Sundarban base articles. (around 20 articles)Draft • Creation of joint social mediaon platform (Facebook, Twitter), hosting a Sundarban section in YouTube for transboundary audio/visual • Setting up of Sundarban specific news outlet; where Sundarban specific news will be gathered from primaryand stakeholders on ground and will be shared with mainstream media after due editorial exercise. (around 8 per month) • Facilitatingfor finalization of collaborative communication proposals involving community/local media.Discussion • Facilitating finalization of joint media campaign to raise awareness, sensitize, policymakers, catalyze action at local, national and international level • Facilitating preparation of collaborative documentary (bilingual) on transboundary Sundarban; life, livelihoods and climate change.

PreparedStatus

• Several rounds of discussions were held in both Bangladesh and India involving senior media officials of various media houses on the issue. After initial round of talks, followings were identified to further push the agenda.

• While in Bangladesh, several discussions were held with respective editors / directors of Prothom Alo, Channel I, Channel 24; in India similar interactions were held with editors / senior executive heads of Anandabazar Patrika, The Telegraph, Nababharat Times (the Hindi edition of Times of India), Zee Television Channel including 24 Ghonta, the Bengali news channel under Zee network. Several discussions were held at web level as well. While all the media houses promised cooperation and showed interest in carrying Sundarban related news and in the process undertake unofficial collaboration to carry inputs from both Sundarban in specific stories subject to editorial approval on content ; formal collaboration seems to be a much more complicated process though not an impossible one. As a matter of fact Zee network has promised series of stories on Indian Sundarban on issues of transboundary nature, and is prepared toBISRCI use feed from Bangladesh on the same if made available. Channel 24 in Bangladesh has also promised the ditto. It is to be appreciated that media houses in Indiaof and Bangladesh have their respective target audiences / readers and frame their content accordingly; and showcasing the agenda as a transboundary one would serve the purpose to a large extent. • On government front, not much progress could be achieved yet between the official television channel – B Tv and Dooradarshan – as such collaboration, despite being agreed upon within mutually agreed MoU, needs administrative clearances from very high level and we plan to pursue the matter oncebehalf the extension will be granted. However significant breakthrough could be achievedDraft in Akashbani, the official radio channel of India. As per an agreementon between two countries, Akashbani runs a specific programme called Maitree on issues concerning both countries; which reach the audience in both India and Bangladesh. After series of meetings and advocacy, Maitree channel has agreed to air programmes regarding transboundary Sundarban subject to availability of experts from bothand countries in Kolkata studio of Akashbani (from where the programme is broadcast) and we have plans to facilitate such programmes once the assignment gets extended. for • Apart from the mediaDiscussion outouts directly coming out of the assignment, the assignment could trigger the imagination of major media about Sundarban anmd so far there are over 50 media outputs – showcased in Indian and Bangladesh media outlets as well as major International Publications like New York Times, The Independent, Reuters etc. As a matter of fact even in trecent times (end 2018 / early 2019) many stories on Sundarban were published in major media platforms, many of which have touched upon the trans boundary element. (Annexure – IV) Prepared • As stated the undertaken programme has directly or indirectly facilitated various strategies from India & Bangladesh as well as international publications. ZEE TV in India & Channel 24 in Bangladesh have agreed to shoot on key issues of Sundarban with focus on transboundary agendas. Moreover there is a print media collaboration between Jayanta Basu & Abu bakhar Sidduiqui; outputs on which will be published.

• Senior and well known directors have shown keen interest in creating film on transboundary Sundarban with climate change as key issue. To be specific Sumon Mukhopadhyay, a Bengali film maker who has already received national and international acknowledgement for his films; many of which are either documentaries or docu features, has already worked with EnGIO on a highly acclaimed documenraty about climate change in Sundarban and Kolkata – Kolkata 2017, in u-tube – and plans to work on a full fledged docu feature on Sundarban, its people and its climate change phenomenon.

Objective 5 : Provision of Sundarban Media Fellowships (To be finalized by The Third Pole) BISRCI The Strategy Undertaken of

• The 'Sundarban Media Fellowship' will be awarded to around 10 journalists from India, Bangladesh & other countries based on an open call followed by selection.

• Selection of fellowship subject and fellowsbehalf will be done through a structured process Draft • It will be ensured that the fellowshipon topics are synergistic so that transboundary media outputs are possible

• The media outputs will be published in mainstream media, other media, internationally known web mediaand and the Sundarban website (around 25-30)

• The durationfor of each fellowship will be around two months Discussion Status

• In context to media fellowship, nine (9) journalists have been selected post an open call – five in Bangladesh, three from India and one from Nepal – out of about 20 applications by a panel of senior journalists from India and Bangladesh. Emphasis was given to select Preparedappropriate local and women journalists.

• Almost all have completed full or part of the field work and most have already published / telecasted their stories. The details status is provided below.

Sl. Name of Selected Name of the Status of Web link No. Journalist publication work

1 Abdullah Miya Kantipur Daily Completed (Nepal) but not published yet

2 Arifur Rahman Kaler Kantha Completed (Bangladesh)

3 Abu Siddique Dhaka Tribune Completed https://www.dhakatribune.com/climate- change/2018/07/13/honey-collectionBISRCI-declines-in-the - Sundarban

Bengal Delta of

https://bengaldelta.net/industrial-development-in-the- southwest-bane-for-the-Sundarban/ (Bangladesh)

4 Banani Mallick The Daily Completed http://www.observerbd.com/details.php?id=155983 Observer behalf (Bangladesh) Draft 5 Chandrima The Telegraph Completedon https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/smoke-on-waters- Bhattacharya (India) the-horrors-of-marichjhnapi/cid/1683509

and 6 G M Mostafizul Channel 24 Completed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnfkq7mUPm4 Alam (Bangladesh)

for Discussionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDATYQfT_Cw

7 Manipadma Jena Freelance Completed http://news.trust.org/item/20181018020317- (India) u3fe6/

Prepared8 Nusrat Islam Khan Freelance Completed (Bangladesh)

9 Sajahan Siraj Badwip Barta Completed (India)

Way Forward:

As explained above, all the components of the assignment have been addressed in various degrees and completed. It is felt that the assignment, which as best can be called a pilot one to facilitate trans boundary media collaboration on Sundarban, needs to be extended to hand hold the activities which immediately emerge from the assignment . Overall the assignment has already proved to be a game changer – close to hundred important articles on Sundarban have come out during the tenure of the assignment; either directly or indirectly influenced by the same - as it facilitated to highlight the key agendas concerning trans boundary Sundarban including the climatic impacts at local, regional and global level; and broadly achieved its objective in terms of giving Sundarban’s its due importance and as a matter of fact Sundarban was discussed in various global meetings . Moreover such effort has also pushed the national governments and West Bengal government to pursue appropriate policy in terms of Sundarban. However the effort willBISRCI not be sustained and may fizzle out unless the process is instutionalised and key areas are taken care off. Some of the important ‘Way Forward’components are suggested below; of

1. The Sundarban website needs to be maintained, continued and strengthened under specialized media experts / organisations as it has been built up. Contents of the web portal may be swapped with media houses across India, Bangladesh etal , which will ensure catching of more eyeballs. Incidentally already there has been positive vives about the same. 2. The Joint Media Platform on Sundarbanbehalf needs to be supported to become a functional entity once the journalists from two countries agree on itsDraft mode of structure and function. 3. More transboundary Sundarbanon media trips are required to continue and sustain the process of exposing largely uninitiated journalists to the wider nuances of Sundarban’s conservation , and as well as catalyzing coverages. 4. More media fellowships may be given with a focus on covering transboundary issues and joint fellowship structure andmay be pursued. 5. The media houses may be pushed to cover Sundarban in a wider scale by providing direct sponsorship to such programmes, as well as appropriate recognition from World Bank. 6. The communicationfor network of NGOs/ CBOs may be hand holded to support more Sundarban centric citizen Discussionjournalism , which may include students and other sections of society. 7. A mobile Sundarban exhibition may be planned across India, Bngladesh and at strategic global programmes to introduce Sundarban and its key issues to wider audience. 8. Targeted Media cum other stakeholder meetings can be planned to push up awareness and action quotient. 9. Supporting documentaries , docu features on Sundarban, its people and climate change Prepared

Annexure I

Establishing Joint MediaBISRCI Platform for Sundarbanof

behalf Draft It is a part of Activitieson of Bangladesh India Sundarban Region Cooperation Initiative (BI - SRCI) and

for Report onDiscussion Media Exposure trips to Trans boundary Sundarban

Prepared

The report is prepared by,

BISRCI

Environment Governed Integrated Organiofsation (EnGIO)

26/1 Ramesh Mitra Road; Kolkata 700025, West Bengal, India behalf Draft Fax and Phone 033 24751941;on E Mail - [email protected]

and

for Discussion

Prepared

Contents

1. Introduction

1.1. Background ……………………………………………………………………………5

1.2. Objectives of the Event ………………………………….…………………………….7

1.3. Scope of the Event ………………………………….…………..……………………...7BISRCI

2. Background for the Event of

2.1. Assessment of current situation……………………………………………………...... 7

 Key issues and challenges, problem definition, behalf  Current perceptions of key stakeholders, policy andDraft strategic environment….. 9 on  What could be possible problem solving approaches

2.2. Approach and Methodology………………………………………………………..……7and

 Justification for the selected event, for  Salient features of theDiscussion pre‐event consultation and communication process,

 How the event attempts to discuss the above‐mentioned key issues and challenges within the current policy and strategic environment,

 Process of identification of key stakeholders Prepared 2.3. Stakeholders and participants…………………………………………………..………9

 Key stakeholders and participants in the event,

 Why if any key group or individual is missing,

 How the selection of participants addresses the key issues and challenges

2.4. Design of the Event……………………………………………………………………11

 Type of event and why

 Selection of issues and content,

 What methodology used to ensure maximum participation BISRCI of  What methodology used to ensure maximum participation and outcomes

 Background Material Preparation

 What background material shared with differentbehalf groups of stakeholders and participants, how it feeds towards desire outcomes of the task Draft 3. Description of Event on

3.1. Description of the deliberations, presentations, etc……………………………………13 and 3.2. Key findings and recommendations (towards meeting the objectives of the Assignment including (if applicable) those related to the following aspects: Social, Policy, Environmental, Technical, Communication,for Knowledge Management………………………………………………..…33

3.3. Outcome and/or impact of theDiscussion event (if any)…………………………… ………..……………35

3.4. Way forward (where to go from here, recommendations for future tasks, new stakeholder identified, new/additional issues and challenges, key constraints in terms of policy environment, finances, technical knowledge, etc.)………………………………………………………..…40 Prepared

4. Lessons learnt

4.1. Salient features (key observations in organization of the tasks)…………………….…40

4.2. Challenges faced and variation in approaches…………………………………………41

4.3. Degree of engagement / interest displayed by different stakeholders……………..…..41

4.4. Process, organization and carrying out of tasks……………………………………..…41

4.5. General recommendations (especially for follow up tasks)…………………………....41

5. Annexures

5.1. Background Materials circulated for the Event……………………………………..…42BISRCI of 5.2. Agenda…………………………………………………………………………………69

5.3. Summary of proceedings (session by session) (to be used as background material for follow‐up events ……………………………………………………………………….72 behalf 5.4. List of participants (or persons consulted/interviewed)………………………………..73Draft on 5.5. Details of Photos and videos (to be shared separately in electronic form)………….…75

5.6. List of media coverage withand dates. ……………………………………………… …….76

5.7. Details of media coverage (if applicable)………………………………………………77 for

Discussion

Prepared

1. Introduction:

The Sundarbans delta is a mesh of rivers, channels, swamps, lakes, and floodplain sediments. Where the delta meets the Bay of Bengal, lies the World’s largest mangrove ecoregion (~20,400 km2) in a chain of more than 100 islands of which about 10,000 km2 is mangrove forests (60% in Bangladesh, 40% in India). ThisBISRCI is one of the World’s most biodiverse ecosystems and is home to numerous threatened species (e.g., the Bengal tiger and several species of river dolphins). It is home to several UNESCO World Heritage sites and other protected areas. Besides, it is alsoof a maj or navigation route used by both India and Bangladesh for inland water transport. The Sundarbans ecoregion is home to about 13 million people (around 4.5 million in Indian Sundarbans) ; half of which lie below the poverty line, and majority relying on subsistence agriculture and fishing4. Moreover the eco-region is also traditionally backward in terms of conventional developmentalbehalf characteristics due to lack of modern energy services, infrastructural improvement, healthcareDraft delivery mechanism etc. These islands are also highly prone onto changing weather patterns, erratic storms and cyclones and rising sea levels, which often cause flooding of agricultural fields with brackish water, destroying the high yielding varieties of paddy crops as well as affecting indigenous paddy varieties that cannot withstand salinity. Despite being bondedand by shared history and culture, as well as neighbourly proximity, social and economic ties between India and Bangladesh have ample scopes to prosperfor especially in the backdrop of significant growth in both countries. Although certain progress has been made in that direction, the level and range of integration remainsDiscussion still less than adequate in terms of both policy and practice which not only affects economic development but also hampers management of shared natural resources such as forests and transboundary river basins.

1.1. Background: Sundarbans is a global hot spot of climate change triggered vulnerability as millions Preparedliving either within Sundarbans or its influence zone stand exposed to heightening long term and short term climate change impacts ; being already impacted with existing socio economical and infrastructural deficit. As a matter of fact it is quite clear that transboundary Sundarban, the area is spread within India and Bangladesh, is one of the most vulnerable island areas of the world and the data suggests that its threat stands even bigger compared to most island countries taken together; many of which receive significant

international coverage – and attention – for climate related risks. However one also needs to look at Sundarban’s vulnerability from the perspective of huge population at risk living within Sundarban Impact Zone both in India and Bangladesh as some of the world’s most dense cities are located within striking distance of Sundarban in both countries. However despite this realized threat, the issue of Sundarban’s climate risk has not yet received appropriate attention from national and international deliberations including at media discourse. As a matter of fact

Sundarban’s climate afflicted vulnerability has only pitch forked into public domain when the tropical cyclone Aila , or for that matter other high intensity cyclones like Sidr had hit the region in recent time. Though the media attention has increased subsequently but still EnGIO media research (refer Annexure III) shows that still theBISRCI coverage about climate change related issues is a minority within the overall cauldron of Sundarban coverage. However communication experts identify that strong and adequate media coverage is extremely important – both at local and as well as at mainstreamof level – not only to make people aware in general about the impending threat but also to undertake targeted advocacy and put pressure on relevant national and sub-national governments and institutions to come up with appropriate policy, planning and action on ground level to mitigate the threat. behalf This premise has made it extremely important for both India and Bangladesh to voice the concern globally together and undertake someDraft joint actions to ensure the survival of Sundarban. This understandingon has led to the process of intra and inter-country dialogue within various stakeholders since 2010, which has strengthened since 2014 with the support provided under SAWI assignment of World Bank. Media, being a critical stakeholder, has beenand identified as part of the priority exercise. In this context, undertaking a proper media communication strategy vis-à-vis transboundary Sundarban has been considered to be an immensely important step in context forto developing a holistic sustainable development blueprint for Sundarban including the considerationDiscussion of climatic changes. With this broad premise in contention, several formal and informal media interactions have been undertaken by EnGIO with help of other stakeholders since 2015 both in India and Bangladesh under the aegis of the World Bank assignment; particularly one with both mainstream media and local media in February, 2016. As a follow up of these dialogue and consultation, EnGIO drafted a Media Communication Plan which has been widely discussed among the members of 'Bangladesh India Sundarban Region Cooperation Initiative' (BI-SRCI). Incidentally BI- PreparedSRCI is a consortium of various organizations across India and Bangladesh which has been working collaboratively on the conservation of transboundary Sundarbans. Once the draft media proposal was discussed, dissected and broadly agreed upon; ORF-India , EnGIO and Third Pole have jointly submitted the trans-boundary Sundarban media communication proposal which has subsequently been approved by World Bank. It is believed that the successful implementation of the assignment will go a long way to cater

to the successful conservation of Sundarbans including reducing risk and vulnerability of exposed populace from climate change impacts; particularly due to the fact that target population from two countries share common language, culture and geography. This is also expected to complement the country to country formal agreements relating to transboundary Sundarbans. The Governments of India and Bangladesh have acknowledged the benefits of growing together and taken steps to cooperate in areas of trade, energy, education, environment and media and made substantial progress in implementing these initiatives through number of high profile meetings since 2010. As a matter of fact both countries have also penned agreements related to conservation of Sundarbans and its biodiversity.

1.2. Objectives of the event: BISRCI The major objectives of the assignment include the following: of 1. Expose the media representatives of both India and Bangladesh to key conservational issues pertaining Sundarbans including issues regarding climate changes and facilitate their understanding regarding the same. 2. Catering holistic coverage of Sundarbans including social and physical infrastructural issues, possiblebehalf climate changes impact issues, biodiversity and likewise. Draft 3. Facilitating enhancedon public discourse and seeks appropriate international attention on Sundarbans.

1.3. Scope of the eventand

The scope of the event is manifold. Undivided Sundarbans and zones influenced by it vis‐à‐visfor climate change have 13 million people among which nearly one‐fourth stand extremely vulnerable to possible high intensity weather events triggered by climate change.Discussion Though the number – as a single unit ‐ can be matched by fewclimate threatened areas in the world, either individually or collectively as a group, still Sundarbans has never been highlighted adequately at global platforms in context to vulnerability to climate change. The facilitation of the issue through enhanced public discourse and undertaking appropriate media strategy, as being initiated through the stated Media Workshops, is targeted to correct this anomaly.

PreparedIt is also believed that once the opinion makers being properly engaged, it will serve as the push to the policymakers and executors of two countries to appreciate the need to see Sundarbans as the single ecological unit and start formal engagement in that direction; apart from encouraging the non state actors to pursue the joint action mode.

2. Background for the event:

2.1. Assessment of current situation:

 Key issues and challenges, problem definition:

The key issues vis‐à‐vis challenges to conserve Sundarbans mainly include its difficult terrain as well as the transboundary character of the area. Sundarbans, in its entirety (around two‐third in Bangladesh, one‐third in India, is the largest mangrove delta in the world; being fed by rivers from Bhutan, China, India and Nepal. Though the area is mostlyBISRCI known for harbouring unparalleled biodiversity in its unique forest, including iconic Royal Bengal Tiger, the fact remains that the area is alsoof home to about 0.2% global population (around 13 million). Moreover Sundarbans is way down the ladder in terms of human development. While India is ranked 135th and Bangladesh is ranked 144th in Human Development Index (HDI), the Sundarbans portion of both India and Bangladesh stand even lower than respective country rankings. The poverty ratio in Sundarbans is around 43.23 % which is nearly twice the counbehalftry averages of India and Bangladesh; 21.92 % and 26 % respectively. Draft

Beside the tough terrainon ‐ the area is interspersed by islands and water channels ‐ and poor social infrastructure; quality of physical infrastructure in the area including roads, electricity and housing is also found wanting; which further magnifies theand gaps in socioeconomic status.

Climate change and its impact add to the traditional developmental deficit in Suforndarbans. Through the process of both long term and immediate climate change, the area is regularly hit with phenomena like high intensity tropical cyclones, gradualDiscussion sea level rise gobbling the islands and likewise. Apart from putting millions to physical risk, the climate change also impacts livelihood of millions involved in agriculture and fishery. It is quite clear that unless both the countries draw up synergistic policy and practice in combating this type of critical issues, Sundarbans will not be able to escape from the high intensity impacts of climate change in the long run. Prepared

 Current perception of key stakeholders, policy and strategic environment:

The current perception of key stakeholders fails to adequately acknowledge the similar nature of the problem in India and Bangladesh and need to take joint action.

Divided by the political boundaries, and the baggage that comes with that, both India and Bangladesh have so far largely tried to address the issues in a country – specific or standalone manner; as climate change , as an issue, is still to be adequately appreciated in political and governmental discourse in both the countries. Hence the key decision makers and also a section of opinion makers often perceive them as merely another bout of disaster and act in an adhoc and knee jerk manner.

This lack of understanding, which in turn influences policy and governance, can prove disastrous for the sustainability of Sundarbans. As Sundarbans is surrounded by some of the cities being global toppers in regards to population density; this lack of understanding about possible impact of climate changes in transboundary Sundarbans can prove disastrous, especially as almost all of the cities and habitations located within hinterland of SundBISRCIarbans both in India and Bangladesh stand grossly unprepared to counter extreme natural events. Hence it is quite likely that a high apportionment of of vulnerability in Sundarbans linked to climate change will be faced by these habitations t Even ci ies like Kolkata or Dhaka may be significantly affected by these high intensity events sooner or later. It may be pointed out that this understanding has been so far largely absent among the decision makers in both countries. There is no denying that though the concernbehalf is getting bigger with each passing day, and often admitted by a section of decision makers; the same is hardly reflected in the policy discourse in two countries. Draft on  Possible problem solving approaches :

The approaches include facilitating better understanding and awareness among all stakeholdersand and building up of focused strategy to integrate the understanding within both the state and non state actors. If is felt that, enhanced transboundary dialogue and interaction at both media and civil society level will befor able to cater mainstreaming of the agenda and facilitate appropriate governmental intervention; so that properly designed and defined programmes are undertaken.Discussion It is understood and well accepted that sustained media campaign about a particular issue, apart from imparting more awareness to all stakeholders ; also triggers the decision makers, the political executives. With this premise , the current programme was undertaken.

Prepared2.2. Approach and methodology:

 Justification for the selected event:

As already discussed at length, increasing public discourse through media on Sundarbans is a necessary step to influence the discourse of respective

governments and stakeholders regarding actions on Sundarbans. One major prerequisite to the objective is to ensure that transbounday media get exposed first hand to key problems of Sundarbans as well as have dialogue, interface and share knowledge, information and experiences among themselves as well as with other stakeholders. It is also necessary to facilitate a platform of interface for the journalists from both countries as well as key experts to exchange ideas and facilitate joint action, as deemed fit. Moreover it is also extremely important that the critical news and related issues of transboundary Sundarban may be expressed in one media platform. so that one can trace and treat the issues in unison. The stated assignment was planned to facilitate the above mentioned objectives and start the process of building and executing a proper transboundary media strategy and road mapBISRCI to achieve the desired objectives. of The consultative method mainly includes group meetings, group exposure trips, interviews, focus group discussion and 1 : 1 interaction. The important parts of interactions have been audio and video taped and duly documented; which is an important input to build up the strategy for overall assignment.

behalf

Draft  Salient features of theon pre eve nt consultation and communication process and process of identification:

The ORF, EnGIO and Third Pole consortium have identified core teams consisting of media andand Sundarban experts to carry out the assignment. Apart from core members, advices have been sought from a pool of experts including those from BI-SRCI to facilitate the process having expertise in international relations,for climate adaptation, ecological economics , communication , oceanography,Discussion environment data management , Sundarban’s wild life, governance etc . As a matter of fact three curtain raiser brainstorming meetings have been held in Delhi, Kolkata (Annexure – I) and Dhaka ; to fine- tune the understanding about proper implementation of the assignment.The Delhi meeting was chaired by Amb Pinak Chakravarty, Distinguished Fellow, ORF and former High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh. To set tone for the discussions, a brief presentation was made by the members of Preparedcore group to introduce the assignment highlighting assignment objective, vision and key deliverables. There was consensus among participants that the agreement between India and Bangladesh for conservation of Sundarbans signed in 2011 highlighted positive intent of the governments of the two countries to cooperate; and the said media assignment would further strengthen the two governments efforts in

conservation of Sundarbans. In addition, the participants discussed the nature and scope of the media assignment and held that it should be able to cater to the cause of wide range of stakeholders in an useful and sustainable manner. The participants also agreed that adequate awareness, knowledge and understanding is still missing within many stakeholders including governmental sectors about Sundarban and the importance of its conservation in context to environment and otherwise; and held that the media assignments, and the outputs from therein, would be extremely useful in the context. One of the major challenges identified was difference between India and Bangladesh on the perception understanding of the Sundarbans. While, Bangladesh recognised only the reserve forest as the Sundarban, Sundarbans included both the reserve forest areas and human inhabited areas for India. The media assignment will also try to highlight these kind of uniqueness of two Sundarbans for BISRCImutual appreciation apart from building up narratives on their commonalities.of

 How the event attempts to discuss the above‐mentioned key issues and challenges within the current policy and strategic environment

The event attempted to deliberate on the above mentioned key issues and challenges pertaining to current policy andbehalf strategic environment regarding conservation of Sundarbans in both the countries throughDraft a four‐fold structure.

 Dialogue and interfaceon between media representatives from both countries;

 Based on inputs from stakeholder communities / civil society representatives/experts; and  First hand exposure to critical Sundarbans issues including climate change impacts; for  BriefDiscussion interface with political personalities from both countries;

2.3. Stakeholders and participants

The primary stakeholder consultations about the assignment has already been initiated at various levels . Apart from brainstorming stakeholder meetings in Delhi, Kolkata and Dhaka Prepared, already mentioned under 4.1 , discussions and communications have been initiated with various editors / senior journalists across India and Bangladesh to understand and facilitate the collaboration dynamics . At Track I level , the matter has also been informally discussed with Environment Ministers of Government of Bangladesh, Environment Minister of India at sidelines of a meeting in kolkata of Government of India, several line ministers in West Bengal Government particularly Minister of Sundarban Affairs and Minister of Disaster

Management departments.

The draft list of stakeholders is given below, but it is by no means conclusive;

BISRCI INDICATIVE LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS of Name of the Organisation Organisation participants India behalf Bangladesh 1 Dr. Harsha Vardhan Minister in Charge, Ministry of Environment Draft Forest on& Climate Change. GoI

2 Janab Anisul Islam Minister in Charge, Mahmud and Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change, for GoBD 3 Dr. Hasan Mahmud Member of Parliament, Discussion Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Bangladesh

4 Manturam Pakhira Minister , Department of Prepared Sundarban Affairs, GoWB

5 Binay Krishna Barman Minister, Department of Forests, GoWB

6 Javed Ahmed Khan Minister , Department of Disaster Management and Civil Defence, GoWB

7 C K Mishra Secretary, Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change, GoI

8 Abdullah Al Mahasin Secretary, Ministry of Chowdhury Environment Forest & Climate Change, GoBD

9 Ajit Bardhan Principal Secretary , Department of Sundarban BISRCI Affairs, GoWB

10 Arnab Roy Principal Secretary, of Environment Department, GoWB

11 Amb. Pinak Ranjan Former High Chakrabarty Commissioner behalfof India in Bangladesh Draft 12 Zulfikar Ali on Mayor, Mongla Municipality

13 Anirban Chattapadhyay Editor, Anandabazar andPatrika 14 R. Rajagopal Editor, The Telegraph

for

15 Matiur Rahman Discussion Editor, Prothom Alo

16 Mahfuz Anam Editor , Daily Star

17 Zafar Sobhan Editor, Dhaka Tribune Prepared18 Muqueed Majumdar Babu Chairman, Channel i 19 Shamim Ahmed Coordinator, Prokriti O Jibon

20 Sudhir Mishra Editor (Lucknow and NCR), Navbharat Times

21 Joydeep Gupta South Asia Director, The Third Pole

22 Soumya Sarkar Managing Editor, India Climate Dialogue

23 Hridayesh Joshi Correspondent , NDTV

24 Snehashis Sur President, Kolkata Press Club and Senior Journalist, Doordarshan

25 Sajahan Siraj Secretary , South 24 Parganas Press Club , District Correspondent BISRCI Dooradarshan and Prasar bharati , Editor, Bwadeep of Barta

26 Chandrima Bhattacharya Deputy Editor , The Telegraph

26 Jayanta Basu Environment behalf Correspondent, The Draft Telegraphon and Director, EnGIO

27 Dola Mitra Correspondent, Outlook

28 Viswa Mohon andSenior Correspondent, Times of India

29 Buroshiva Dasguptafor Media Academician

30 Kuntak Chatterjee DiscussionSenior Correspondent, Anandabazar Patrika

31 Rahul Dutta Senior Correspondent, Bartaman

32 Anurag Danda Climate Adaptation and Prepared Sundarban Expert, WWF – India

28 Nilanjan Ghosh Ecological Economics expert, ORF and WWF-

29 Pavel Partho Sundarban Expert

30 Imtiaz Ahmed South Asian Water Expert

31 Bushra Ahmed Water Expert, International Waterways Authority

32 Sk Rokon River Expert

33 Iftekar Mahamud Senior Correspondent, Prothom Alo

34 Manash Ghosh Senior Journalist, ATN Bangla BISRCI 35 Sayed Shahin Journalist,of Banik Barta, President, Agriculture Journalists in Bangladesh

36 Rejaul Kawshik Journalist, The Daily behalfIttefaq 37 Arifur Rahman DraftJournalist, Kaler Kantha 38 Sugata Hazra Schoolon of Oceanographic Studies andJadavpur University 39 Saleemul Haque Director, International Centre for Climate Change for and Development at the Independent University, Discussion Bangladesh.

40 Bankim Hazra Chairman, Sundarban Development Board, GoWB

41 Souparno Banerjee Media Head, Center for Prepared Science and Environment (CSE)

42 Local people, Representatives of local administration in both countries

43 NGOs, CBOs, CSOs in both countries

BISRCI

of 2.3.1 Key stakeholders and participants in the event

Indian Sundarban participants list from 13 – 15 Dec 2017:

Sl. Picture Name Particulars Email No. behalf

1 Anurag Danda Sundarban Expert,Draft [email protected] on India

2 Anil andMistri Bali Nature & Wildlife Conservation Society, Sundarban, for India 3 Arifur RahmanDiscussion Kaler Kantha, [email protected] Bangladesh

4 Chandrima The Telegraph, India [email protected] Bhattacharya Prepared 5 Dola Mitra Outlook, India [email protected]

6 Harjit Singh Global Lead on [email protected] Climate Change for Action Aid, New Delhi, India 7 Hridayesh Joshi NDTV, India [email protected]

8 Iftikhar Mahamud Prothom Alo, [email protected] Bangladesh

9 Jayanta Basu The Telegraph, [email protected] India; EnGIO of 10 Joydeep Gupta Third Pole, India [email protected]

11 Kuntak Chatterjee Anandabazarbehalf Patrika, [email protected] India Draft on 12 Manash Ghosh ATN Bangla, [email protected] and Bangladesh 13 forNilanjan Ghosh ORF-Kolkata, India [email protected] Discussion 14 Rahul Dutta Bartaman, India [email protected]

15 Rejaul Kawshik The Daily Ittefaq, [email protected] Prepared Bangladesh

16 Sajahan Siraj Bwadip Barta, India [email protected]

17 Sayed Shahin Banik Barta, [email protected] Bangladesh

18 Snehasis Sur Doordarshan, India [email protected]

19 Soumya Sarkar India Climate soumya.sarkar@indiaclimatediBISRCI Dialogue, India alogue.net of 20 Sudhir Mishra Navbharat Times, [email protected] India

21 Sumit Chakraborty EnGIO,behalf Kolkata [email protected] Draft on 22 Surajit Purkait EnGIO, Kolkata [email protected] and

for Bangladesh Sundarban participants list from 23 – 26 Feb 2018: Discussion

Sl. Picture Name Affiliation Email No.

1 Abu bakhar Sidduiqui Dhaka Tribune, [email protected] Bangladesh Prepared

2 Antara Biswas News 24, Bangladesh [email protected]

3 Arifur Rahman Kaler Kantha, [email protected] Bangladesh

4 Banani Mallick The Daily Observer, [email protected] Bangladesh

5 Chandrima Bhattacharya The Telegraph, India [email protected]

6 G M Mostafizul Alam Channel 24, [email protected] Bangladesh

of 7 Harjeet Singh Global Lead on [email protected] Climate Change for Action Aid, New Delhi, India 8 Hridayesh Joshi NDTV,behalf India [email protected] Draft on 9 Jayanta Basu The Telegraph, India [email protected] and 10 forJoydeep Gupta Third Pole, India [email protected] Discussion 11 Manash Ghosh ATN Bangla, [email protected] Representative Bangladesh

12 Manipadma Jena Thomson Reuters [email protected] Foundation, India Prepared

13 Pavel Partha Sundarban Expert, [email protected] Bangladesh

14 Rahul Dutta Bartaman, India [email protected]

15 Shahanuare Shahid Banik Barta, [email protected] Shahin Bangladesh

16 Soeb Zobaidur Rahman International Water zobaidur_rahman@chinadialogueBISRCI Association (IWA), .net Bangladesh of 17 Soumya Sarkar India Climate soumya.sarkar@indiaclimatedia Dialogue, India logue.net

18 Sowmiya Ashok The Economicbehalf Times, [email protected] India Draft on 19 Sumit Chakraborty EnGIO, Kolkata [email protected] and 20 forSurajit Purkait EnGIO, Kolkata [email protected] Discussion

2.3.2 Why if any key group or individual is missing:

PreparedAll key groups have been so far involved in the programme so far in context to originally planned.

2.3.3 How the selection of participants addresses key issues and challenges:

The selection of participants has been done to ensure that the key issues and challenges in

conservation of transboundary Sundarbans are addressed as per the mandate of given assignment. The participants have been selected to appropriately deal with the following issues;

a) To highlight the issues of transboundary Sundarban particularly climate change in public domain through international and national media b) To have appropriate interface and undertake advocacy with all the stakeholders including both union governments and Government of West Bengal as well as local (municipal / panchayate) governments in both countries c) To facilitate and trigger discussion at civil society levels ; locally and globally d) To facilitate proper understanding of the problem, information sharing and undertaking appropriate strategy by transboundaryBISRCI (TB) media to highlight the traditional and climate change triggered problems of Sundarbans in public domainof

2.4. Design of the event:

behalf Following activities to come under the MediaDraft Assignment i. Formulation of Strategyon for facilitating media collaboration on Sundarbans ii. Setting up and running of an Interactive and Collaborative Sundarban website and related social media tools iii. Trainingand cum Exposure Media trips in Transboundary Sundarban iv. Facilitating finalization of specific collaborative media proposals and rolling out activity on ground v.for Provision of Sundarban Media Fellowships Discussion

 Type of the event and why

 Selection of issues and content

The selection of issues and content development was done keeping in focus Prepared the critical issues and agendas vis‐à‐vis Sundarbans’ survival from both traditional and climate change triggered problems. Various experts flagged off discussions predominately on the following issues:

1. Climate change impacts in TB Sundarbans vis‐à‐vis global context 2. Disasters in Sundarbans

3. Vulnerability vis-à-vis resilience of population living in Sundarbans and Sundarbans influenced zone in India & Bangladesh. 4. Focus on the need to have joint efforts to conserve Sundarbans and people dependent on it; including media efforts 5. Existing quality and quantity of media coverage and possibility to scale up the same 6. Coverage by mainstream media and local media and importance of collaboration 7. Status of biodiversity including wildlife 8. Physical Infrastructural deficit 9. Socio‐economical deficit 10. Livelihood practices like agriculture and fishery 11. Man‐animal conflict BISRCI 12. Fresh water issues in Sundarbans including salinity 13. Governments role and planning of 14. Gender issues particularly role of women at the frontline vis-à-vis extreme weather events as well as promoting resilemce 15. Possible climate adaptation roadmap of Sundarban 16. Loss and Damage vis-à-vis Sundarban 17. Economics of Sundarban behalf

 Methodology used: Draft on The broad methodology to execute the overall mandate to facilitate in conserving Sundarban particularly wrt to Climate Change is stated below: I/1. Formulationand of Strategy for facilitating media collaboration on Sundarbans • Understanding and identifying the process and dynamics of for possible media collaboration within official and private media Discussion• Understanding and identifying the actors (including NGOs / CBOs in communication sector)in possible media collaborations including transboundary media • Understanding and identifying the possible collaboration areas / subjects / issues in print, audio visual and web media Prepared • Facilitating the process of preparing collaborative proposals I/2. Setting up of an Interactive and Collaborative Sundarban website and its continuation

• The website will be interactive and trilingual (content will be mainly in English and Bengali while some will be in Hindi as well). • The website will not only target the people at large and particularly stakeholders in West Bengal, India and Bangladesh but also the national and international audience. • The development of the website – structure, style and spread – will be finalized with appropriate expert inputs. • The editorial policy will be finalized after considering inputs from partners / advisorsto the assignment as well as members of BISRCI BISRCI • The website will be geospecific; for example, anyone opening the website in Bangladesh will get to see the Bengali version by default; this is expected to makeof it more user friendly and acceptable. • The website will position itself as an extended web-magazine on transboundary Sundarban containing both secondary and primary news / information, data, opinions / blogs special article on Sundarban, interviews,behalf still photo and video etc. • The contents will be generatedDraft through a process of collaboration with onmainstream media, local media, local NGOs, academic and research organizations, appropriate government departments etc. • A dedicated team of media professionals will maintain the website andon a regular basis. • The website, once it settles down, will be linked to appropriate stakeholders, state and non-state actors, so that it becomes a for platform for transboundary Sundarban related awareness, action Discussionand alternatives. • The website will be regularly updated as detailed earlier, both content wise and technically. Remark: The methodology planning has taken into account the fact that some similar earlier efforts, websites that dealt with environmental issues including Sundarbans, had died out after a Prepared while. The major reason behind the trend was the fact that they were run by non-governmental organizations, and their main purpose was activism, which usually failed to engage the readers beyond a certain period. In contrast this website will be a specialized news website, with emphasis on the news and

information, and will be run by media and communication experts in a professional manner.

Table 1: Setting up the Website is one time task which is to be done through consultative process among ORF, EnGIO & The Third Pole as well as other BISRCI members also the Running the Website will be a regular process. Hence specific role in this regard have been defined for ORF, EnGIO & The Third Pole as BISRCIstated below: of

Roles & Responsibilities for Running the Website

a) For Content b) For behalfc) For d) For e) For f) For Generation/ Content TranslationDraft Promotional selection & Coordination Development Uploading & (Trilingual) Activities on supervision among & appropriate Managementon Social Media of the assignment Partner news item & Search provided team members Organisations capture Engine content to be for a), b), c), d) and Optimisation uploaded & e) activities including technical for experts /programmers Discussion of website

ORF Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes (Hindi)

EnGIO Yes Yes Yes Prepared (Bengali) The Third Yes Yes Pole

I/3. Training cum Exposure media trips in transboundary Sundarban • The activity will be undertaken in collaboration with media houses / focused media association (Press Clubs etc) who will spare the journalists for the programs apart from publishing / broadcasting articles/ audiovisual content as generated through the activities of the assignment, subject to editorial clearance. (Around 30 articles/ audio video content will be generated including India and Bangladesh from the assignment) • About 20 persons including around 10 journalists and 10 others (subject experts, media experts and organizers) will be involved in each program • The journalists will be selected from both mainstream media as well as local media based on their track record of journalistic coverage, media attachment etc. after due consideration of viewsBISRCI of partners / advisors • Academic, technical and media experts willof facilitate the exercise. • The Indian part of the trip will be tentatively as follows: Day 1 - Seminar Mode in Kolkata / Sundarban, Day II and III - Field visit in Sundarban and exposure to various situations before leaving for /via Kolkata • The Bangladesh part of the trip will be tentatively as follows: Day 1 - Seminar Mode in Mongla,behalf Day II and III - Field visit in Sundarban and exposure to various situations beforeDraft leaving for /via Mongla/ Khulna I/4 Facilitating finalizationon of specific collaborative media proposals and rolling out activity on ground • Facilitating to operationalize the existing MoU between India & Bangladeshand on mutual broadcast television programs vis-à-vis Sundarban. • Explore whether government and private media houses can share content for on Sundarbans in the two countries like the‘Satya Meba Jayate’ model. • Facilitating finalization of transboundary linkage between audio-visual mediaDiscussion houses on telecasting Sundarban based programs (broadcast around 15 programs) • Facilitating finalization of transboundary collaboration between print media houses on publishing Sundarban base articles. (around 20 articles) • Creation of joint social media platform (Facebook, Twitter), hosting a Prepared Sundarbans section in YouTube for transboundary audio/visual • Setting up of Sundarban specific news outlet; where Sundarban specific news will be gathered from primary stakeholders on ground and will be shared with mainstream media after due editorial exercise. (around 8 per month)

• Facilitating finalization of collaborative communication proposals involving community/local media. • Facilitating finalization of joint media campaign to raise awareness, sensitize, policymakers, catalyze action at local, national and international level • Facilitating preparation of collaborative documentary (bilingual) on transboundary Sundarbans; life, livelihoods and climate change.

I/5. Provision of Sundarban Media Fellowships

• The 'Sundarban Media Fellowship' will be awardedBISRCI to around 10 journalists from India, Bangladesh & other countries based on an open call followed by selection. of • Selection of fellowship subject and fellows will be done through a structured process with the help of partners and advisors as well as other appropriate stakeholders including media houses • It will be ensured thatbehalf the fellowship topics are synergistic so that transboundary media outputs areDraft possible • The media outputson will be published in mainstream media, other media, internationally known web media and the Sundarban website (around 25- 30) • Theand duration of each fellowship will be around two months • Background materials preparation:

for Discussion

3. Description of Event

3.1. Description of the deliberations, presentations, etc

Two transboundary media workshops were held in Transboundary Sundarban regions; the first one in Indian part and second one was the Bangladesh side. Prepared(Annexure I to V}

INDIAN SUNDARBAN MEDIA WORKSHOP 13 – 15 DECEMBER, 201

Programme: The workshop on Understanding Climate hange in Indian Sundarban was organized over three days in two different parts of Indiam Sundarban – in Gosaba block in south east part of Indian Sundarban and Sagar block in south west part of Indian Sundarban - considering their history and vulnerability to climate hange impacs. Participants Indian journalists, experts & others:

Joydip Gupta / Soumya Sarkar / Harjit Singh / Sudhir Mishra / Hridayesh Joshi / Snehasis Sur / Anurag Danda / Nilanjan Ghosh / Chandrima Bhattacharya / Jayanta Basu / Sajahan Siraj / Dola Mitra / Kuntak Chatterjee / Rahul Dutta / Anil Mistri / Surajit Purkait / Sumit Chakraborty (detailed in 2.3.1) BISRCI Bangladeshi Journalists & others: of Iftikhar Mahamud/ Sayed Shahin / Rejaul Kawshik/ Manash Ghosh/ Arifur Rahman (detailed in 2.3.1) Day 1:

1. All the participants – both from Kolkata and outstation - were assembled in Paroma island on E M Bypass,behalf Kolkata at about 10.30 am and then prceeded towards Indian Sundarban in a bus. Draft 2. The bus reached Godkhalion – the furthest point on main land on way to Sundarban around noon – and the participants got into a specially hired boat. 3. The first destination for the team was Sonaga village which has been severely affected by the cyclone Aila about a decade back but still could not fully recoverand from its impacts. Still many families , extremely challenged socio- economically , live literally on the river and run the risk of being swallowed anytime. The team of journalists met many locals and tried to understand the fordynamics of the climate change triggeredDiscussion risk and otherwise. 4. Subsequently the team reached at Tora Eco Resort, Bali Island – within Gosaba block - in afternoon and settled in respected room. 5. In the evening, the participants joined in an interaction session with local people regarding livelihood & social issues in Indian Sundarban followed by an Orientation meeting. Number of presentations followed by discussion and exchange of thoughts continued over two hours where media representatives Prepared of two countries shared their respective experiences and opinios vis-a-vis covering Sundarban. (Photo documentation in Annexure II)

Detailed Deliberation

Observations of Local people Susanta Mondol and others in response to media queries 1. Entering into the dense forest of Sundarban for livelihood is becoming increasingly risky as tiger attack has increased in recent years. Moreover the unseasonal rain, intrusion of saline water affecting agriculture has also increased. As a matter of fact many in Sundarban have yet to recover from the impact of cyclone Aila and we fear that even worse is waiting round the corner. As a result many have left the erstwhile professons and have started working in local service sectors like health units or hotels. Some have started to do crab & fish farming, honey bee farming etc. However a sizeable proportion of population, predominantly males, has migrated to various parts of country and even beyond in search of livelihoods. BISRCI 2. Politics, and its pressure, is there like any other place but that does not significantly influence the day to day living. Permission of BLC (Boat Licence Certificate; which allows fishing within protectedof wild ife area) and honey collection from forest area are given by forest department. There are various issues with proper distribution of BLCs and other permissions, as often they do not reach those who actually do the fishing. As a result there is a trend of illegally encroaching into reserve forest areas withut permission. On the other hand it has also to be admitted often fishermenbehalf encroach in areas beyond their permit zone in search of fishes. Pirates are also a major problemDraft to fishermen who venture futher into the sea. on 3. However recently forest department has taken a programme to distribute BLCs afresh but so far people with their own recorded land and house have been getting the priority; but there are many fishermen who do not fall in that category. The flip part of it thatand fishermen, who have been venturing into forest area in search of livelihoods and get killed by tigers or otherwise, do not get the compensation whichfor is about 1.5 to 2 lakhs rupees. 4. There is an overall crisis on livelihood. The prawn collection has dwindled as well. The only silverDiscussion lining is the return from honey has increased since forest department had allowed free marketing of collected honey instead of obligatory selling to them in a fixed price; which was used to be much lower than the market price.

Prepared Observations of Local people: Anil Mistri

1. Climate change has already become a reality in Sundarban and people have already started strengthening their existing houses by building concrete pillars as a precaution to high intensity cyclones.

2. The Bali Island has become an example of developing resiience to climate change impacts; particularly in context to livelihood security. The training for integrated fishery and polyculture to local people is provided here, as well as the apiculture in boxes so that people do not have to venture into the forest for collecting honey and often loose their lives. As a matter of fact, ponds are quite normal here as the practice is to dig out soil to raise the house and create a pond as a result. 3. Agricultural training is also provided with involvement of various expert and government agencies so that climate adapted agriculture including farming of salt tolerant paddy varieties. Various seeds are also provided as well as training for livestock maintainance. 4. Migration is quite common in the entire area as people move out in their effort to get more money and better quality of lives; but along with the money come several perils which are tending to change the society. BISRCI 5. Infrastructure, like roads etc, needs to be improved. The embankment needs to be strengthened at the earliest. After Aila, affected households got Rs. 10000 per family but that can hardly qualify as a drop in theof ocean. 6. It is to be kept in mind that the entire economy of the region largely depends on agriculture which is under threat now. Hence alongside promoting climate adapted agriculture practices; ecotourism needs to be strengthened with more involvement of local people. 7. For getting various advantedgesbehalf from the mangrove plantation including building firewall against stroms and river surges, more mangrove need to be planted in islands. Draft on Major pointers from the presentations made during orientation meeting Joydip Guptaand (Third pole) 1. No salt tolerant paddy is yet developed which can be showcased as a long term solution as the salinity of the soil normally rises constantly and every salt tolerant varietyfor paddy has a limit to counter. 2. In context Discussionto getting support for climate change linked vulnerability , Sundarban suffers for an inherent confusion that runs into the power corridor of the country; are we going to present the country as a developing one that needs help or are we going to present the country as an emerging economy which needs to develop . 3. It is to be admitted that Sundarban has not got appropriate importance in national context for domestic political reasons. Prepared4. The importance of mangroves should be sufficiently understood & appreciated. 5. There are two kinds of climate impacts; sudden impact & slow impact. Insurance is theoretically possible for sudden impacts like storms, floods, However the likes of drought; sea level rise & ocean acidification, which are sure to impact the entire fishery sector in the region, are not insurable as they are not incident based.

6. In context to local population getting financial return for maintaining and propagating local biodiversity; benefit sharing is now recognized in global biodiversity convention and in at least in two cases in India, such benefits have reached district level. Such model can be pursued in case of Sundarban. 7. Media capacity needs to be increased to generate more Sundarban specific news on climate change effects, environmental degradation, and current scenario of different islands in Sundarban etc. It is also needed to undertake specific approaches such as strengthening the local media, more interaction between local & mainstream media, training, offering specific fellowships etc.

Anurag Danda: BISRCI 1. The people of Sundarbans stand already challenged because of inherent issues and because of the ecosystem that has already been modified.of Climate change is only making it worse. The current embankment system is the only protector but that also stands quite vulnerable in some places. 2. Frequent cyclonic event is a typical characteristic of the Bay of Bengal region but high intensity cyclones have increased over time. 3. Climate change becomes a significantbehalf problem when the temperature variability increases beyond 1° C. Draft 4. The well being of commonon people is affected due to sustained impact of climate change and climate adaptation counters the trend with necessary compromises. and Nilanjan Ghosh: 1. Sundarbans economy is an agrarian economy. Agriculture is the primary driver but thefor excessive reliance on ecosystem often proves to be extremely important in the region. Discussion 2. The people of Sundarban are benefitted many ways from ecosystem service which is classified as provisionary service of the ecosystem. Ecosystem also provides some regulating service apart from agricultural revenue which is often not up to the mark. 3. Mangrove forest of Sundarbans acts as a natural carbon sink which can be Prepared translated to a huge economic benefit if it can be linked to the carbon market. 4. Unique mangrove honey of Sundarban needs to be branded & marketed properly. 5. Extremely vulnerable zones need to be identified properly and if requires, relocate the population to the safer zones. Land right however should remain in the name of actual owner. After that restoration of mangrove can be done in the vacant land

to increase resilience and also for the carbon sequestration which will increase the revenue generation potential to a further extent. 6. Detailed cost benefits analysis should be performed under all scenarios. 7. Future modeling and proper planning is also essential before any population relocation is contemplated.

Jayanta Basu: 1. Climate Change has now become a social issue in sinking islands of Sundarban like Ghoramara & Mousuni because families do not want to get their daughters married off in those islands vis-à-vis climate change triggered uncertainty and erosion. BISRCI 2. Poverty ratio of Sundarbans is 43% which is double compared to India’s poverty ratio. of 3. Sundarban’s resident population is bigger than Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s resident population as per census figure. 4. Sundarban is extremely vulnerable to short term impact like high intensity cyclone and long term impact like sea level rise, erosion etc. In last five decades Sundarban lost the size of land which is biggerbehalf than Kolkata. 5. Due to trans-boundary nature conserving DraftSundarban is difficult unless a trans boundary initiative is undertaken.on 6. From proper media reportage point of view, Interaction is required between local journalists & mainstream journalists. 7. Orientationand and training is necessary for local journalists both in India & Bangladesh. 8. Anfor interesting dilemma can be seen in Indian Sundarban where education level is very high butDiscussion employment level is very low. 9. After cyclone Ayla, out migration has increased in Indian Sundarban. According to local inputs, in 80% families; one person from each family in average works outside Sundarban including in other states. 10. Many NGO’s are working in Sundarban in various issues; but there is little coherence. Prepared11. There ae few positive case studies like Bali, people are attempting integrated farming method and also trying to restore the local ecosystem sustainably 12. There is no system of crop insurance so far.

13. The Sundarban Media programme has various components including exposure trips to two Sundarbans, development of a Sundarban specific webportal , Sundarban fellowships, media outputs including collaborative media outputs.

Snehasis Sur: 1. The overall programme including Sundarban web portal is a very positive approach & Calcutta Press Club will like to be associated with the overall initiative. 2. A network of environment journalists may be created involving senior level journalists. 3. If press club from both countries get involved then the purposeBISRCI may be served in a better manner. of Iftikar Ahmed: 1. The reporters who are actually working on Sunderbans should be identified first. A media mapping including working area of reporters and reportage from 2 countries should be done. behalf 2. Agricultural economy is leading to serviceDraft economy in India. But in Bangladesh, agricultural economyon is leading to industrial economy. 3. Huge industrialization around Bangladesh Sundarban is a concern. 4. Sundarban protection act needs to be formalized. and Chandrima Bhattacharya: 1. forWomen -centric news should also be in focus because women are playing a major role in socio-economic sector in Sundarban region. And research survey shows that womenDiscussion & children are likely to be more vulnerable in any natural calamities and also by the long term issues like climate change especially in Sundarban.

Day-2 • After breakfast, the participants visited to Sudhanyakhali forest by boat through Prepared the creeks of Sundarban getting a first hand feel of Sundarban forest and the ecosystem embracing it. • After spending some time in Sudhanyakhali, the participants visited Rangabelia Island to see the landmark alternative livelihood programme run by Tagor Society for Rural Development led by Padmashree Tushar Kanjilal.

The deliberation in Rangabelia is as follows:

Protima Mitra, Tagor Society for Rural Development, Rangabelia: 1. Once Rangabelia faced severe poverty and malnutrition and the people hardly had the opportunity to have square meals. 2. At the initiation of the assignment, almost five decades back, Rangabelia was a mono-crop area in nature. We had taken many initiatives to convert monocrop land to the multicrop in nature. Majority of the fund generated were invested to feed to the agricultural needs. 3. However we observed no financial improvement of the villagers after achieving multicrop agricultural goal often got neutralized due to cost incurred to combat various diseases. Water borne diseases were major amongBISRCI them. 4. Not only have the health issues, the climatic issuesof also proved to be a major deterrent to development over a period of time. Sundarban area has always prone to severe cyclones which can destroy anything and everything in its path. The problem has only increased in recent time. Cyclone of 1988, Cyclone Aila in 2009; all catered tremendous destruction in this region. 5. Out migration is the major problembehalf especially after Aila 2009. 6. Both central government & state government are trying to build the primary infrastructure in the area; organizations likeDraft UNICEF also are trying to contribute. But still theon area stands extremely vulnerable. region. 7. As the employment and livelihood opportunities have minimized over time, young generation get often swayed by un social and un lawful practices. 8. Howeverand all in all, countering and adapting to climate change impacts stand out to be the most important agenda as of today; as we have understood that the socio economic developments accrued slowly over long time can be undone by an one forhour storm or one river surge. Discussion • After visiting Tagor Society’s office in Rangabelia participants went to Hamilton Island on their way to Godkhali en route to Bakkhali in other part of Indian Sundarban.

Hamilton island, one of the islands within Gosaba block, is named after Sir Prepared Daniel Mackinnon Hamilton (6 Dec. 1860 – 6 Dec.1939) who formed country’s first consumer movement in the area and had also set up a consumer cooperative society. The model of development pushed by Hamilton became so famous that Nobel Laureate poet, Rabindranath Tagore came all the way to visit Gosaba and saw the model first hand.

• Subsequently the team embarked on a 180 km journey to reach Bakkhali late in the evening on same day.

Day-3: After breakfast, participants visited Mousuni Island (a severe climate impacted island within Sagar block) at the doorstep of Bay of Bengal. From Bakkhali, it took around 1.30 hour to reach Mousuni including bus & boat rides on river. Once in Mousuni, the media team visited the eroded areas of the island, spoke to common people and also to the representatives of administration present during the trip; and documented the scenario for over two hours. Simanta Kumar Malik, Sabhapati, Namkhana Panchayet BISRCISamity Sk. Adalat, Pradhan, Mousumi Panchayate of

1. Mousumi island is one of the most climate vulnerable islands of Indian Sundarban. The erosion and the intrusion of saline water in the agricultural fields are major problems in the area, which happen in two sides of island; from the sea side and also the river that flowsbehalf beside Mousuni. As a result thousands in Baliara and Kusumtala mouzas and adjoining areas had to shift their homes and also lost land and, hence, livelihoods linked to agriculture.Draft The situation has worsened after the storm Aila inon 2009. 2. In last two decades sea side embankments had to be shifted at least 7 times further inside the island because of heavy erosion and rise of sea water level. Presentlyand there is no sea embankment and at least 4 km long embankment is required urgently to save the island. for 3. The local people have continuously appealing to local administration to save their lives, landsDiscussion and livelihoods and local administration, in turn, has requested to look after the situation of this island. As a matter of fact nearly 1500 families, washed away from their homeland out of which many have migrated and others have to stay within temporary shelters. Agriculture has become almost impossible for major part of Mousuni since Aila triggered submergence of saline water. 4. Mangrove plantation is not possible in this unstable land. It has been tried few Prepared times but the results were not favourable. 5. A 2.5 km long concrete embankment work is presently in pipeline, which is expected to provide long term protection to people and assets in the Mousumi Island.

Voice of the community

1. In time of high tide or water surge, saline water intrusion in the village is a common thing in this area. Saline water enters our home almost on daily basis. During monsoon or spring tides (major high tides), the schools studesns have to wade through knee deep water to reach the schools. The situation has become so critical in some areas that even local students have to stay in school hostels for properly pursuing their academics.

2. Daily wages labour is the only livelihood options for most adult males with agriculture being severely affected. Many have to go to outside Sundarbans including other states like Kerala, Tamilnadu etc in search of livelihood. Taking the opportunity an unscrupulous network has been formedBISRCI who take huge amount of money from unsuspecting an helpless villagers in the name of facilitating jobs outside Sundarban; often outside India as well. of

3. Erosion and flooding has become so acute that almost all the ponds of the affected mouzas have turned saline, affecting fishery. Even the graveyard has not being spared. behalf Discussions within Participants post MousumiDraft trip on Harjit Singh:

The kind of impact, the scale of impact that we saw just now, is huge and keep in mind that it isand going to increase. We are already living in 1 degree celsius warmer world compared to pre industrialized period and recent report of UN says we are perhaps moving towards a 3 degree Celsius warmer world scenario. Under that kind of scenario,for the impacts will be several folds and unfortunately that understanding is still not there Discussionwith the government.

Jayanta Basu: Prepared The point to ponder is people of Sundarban hardly contribute to this carbon cauldron. There is hardly much electricity and other energy linked infrastructure. So without virtually contributing anything to this global menace, they are being hugely affected. How you feel on this dynamics?

Harjit Singh:

That is called climate injustice. People of the rich country have contributed to the climate change but see; who is paying the cost of it, it is the poor people in the developing country. People of Sundarban stand badly affected. That reality needs to be shown in international level to the developed world that this is what you have done & you are the one who are blocking any progress in discussion on climate finance & finance is required for helping people adapt to this changing reality. People in Sundarban need financial support to counter climate triggered displacement, to adapt to new livelihood options , perhaps get a new piece of land; so that they can rebuild their life and livelihoods at the face of climate change impacts. BISRCI Jayanta Basu: of Any plan to be taken in the international level?

Harjit Singh:

Now we have a mechanism of assessing loss & damage in place & the executive committee meets twice every year.behalf We need to take this reality, these issues to that particular committee & inform and aware themDraft about the climate change triggerd loss and damage people have onbeen already facing on the ground.

, they are loosing their life & livelihood everyday. So the urgency with which action is required has to be communicated. We are going to continue lobby & put a lot of pressure on theand international system to deliver finance for addressing loss & damage.

Jayanta Basu: for For doing that,Discussion we need to document this in a proper manner.

Harjit Singh:

Absolutely. Both media reports on the issue as well as proper audio visual and print documentation of facts and figures along with first hand experiences and observations of local people will help to raise the issue appropriately in global platforms. Prepared Dola Mitra:

People told that the only solution of erosion problem is rebuilding the embankments because the land is getting eroded for some decades.

Joydeep Gupta:

The moot question is to what extent the rebuilding will be done? In Sundarban, it has been already raised more than for 6 mtrs. In Chennai, retrofitting has been done in a manner that the whole house is raised 5 ft. above the ground & a complete platform is built. In Sunderbans, it is difficult to do for a range of reasons.

Harjit Singh:

Pethaps the developed countries can provide appropriate technology to counter the situation.

Soumya Sarkar: BISRCI

Like Mumbai, can we think about reclaimation here?of

Joydeep Gupta:

Economically it may not be viable to reclaim.

Harjit Singh: behalf Draft There is another aspect toon it. Bombay reclaimation was different compared to reclaiming land for an island. In that condition, this entire unique ecosystem will be messed up.

Harjit Singh:and

Actually when we talk about mitigation, we primarily talk of two things. for 1. ReducingDiscussion emissions … however within emission we largely talk about carbon emissions but there are also other gases i.e. why we call it carbon equivalents . So we have to minimise emissions from different sources. We have to protect our forests because forests play a very important role in absorbing all the excess green house gases. So both are equally important & that is very important angle for Sundarbans. Mangroves, biodiverse ecosystem play an important role in mitigation as well. So if we destroy it , we are actually adding to the problem. Prepared This is a very fragile ecosystem that is getting affected by climate change. if we destroy it or if it gets destroyed by climate change, it will further add to climate change. So from that point of view, it is important to preserve what we aready have.

2. Adaptation means that we have to start preparing for the future. The embankments are example of mal-adaptation because they do not appropriately work. These embankments are one of the ways to adapt as they are meant to stop inundation. Concrete houses survive better than mud houses, which is another way of adaptation. Retrofitting of buildings and houses in a manner that can withstand the impact, is important in context to adaptation. Traditional livelihoods are also in danger as fishing has been impacted. What are the other livelihoods options that we can provide them? If they migrate, then how we can make their migration safe? There are also number of ways of dealing with extreme weather scenarios catered by climate change; early warning system catering to evacuation at appropriate time and place and likewise. , Moreover we need to have hazardwise adaptation strategy. BISRCI 3. In context to Loss & Damage, within Article 8 of Paris agreement in 2015, there is a provision to address permanent & irreversible loss & damage which is found in Mousuni island. What support, financially andof otherwise, is provided now is only adhoc and compensatory in nature. Addressing loss and damage considering as components of lives and livelihoods over a temporal scale is a much bigger issue.

4. All the problems in Sunderbansbehalf are not due to climate change and we also need to address these development related issues as well in conjunction with climate change related issues. Draft on After spending hours at Mousuni Island participants headed back for Kolkata via Namkhana and reached Kolkata Airport around 5 pm where outstation media personelsand were disembarked . Rest came back to the city.

BANGLADESH SUNDARBAN MEDIA WORKSHOP 23 –for 26 FEBRUARY, 2018 Programme: Discussion ‘Understanding Climate Change Impact in Bangladesh’, was organized over four days in Satkhira and Mongla areas adjacent to Sundarban to see first hand the climate change linked dynamics in the zone. Participants: PreparedFrom India: Harjit Singh / Joydip Gupta / Soumya Sarkar / Hridayesh Joshi / Sowmiya Ashok / Rahul Dutta / Chandrima Bhattacharya / Jayanta Basu / Manipadma Jena / Sumit Chakraborty / Surajit Purkait

From Bangladesh: G M Mustafizul Alam / Pavel Partha / Soeb Zobaidur Rahman / Manash Ghosh / Shahanuare Shahid Shahin / Arifur Rahman / Banani Mallik / Antara Biswas / Abu Bakhar Siddiquee (detailed in 2.3.1)

Day 1 (23.02.18):

All the Indian participants assembled in Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata at about 10.30 am and headed for Ghojadanga (Basirhat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India) - Bhomra Border (Satkhira, Bangladesh); which is about 65 km away from the airport in a bus. Upon reaching Ghojadanga border, the participants cleared the customes and walked through the ‘No Mans Land’ to reach Bhomra at Bangladesh side of the border. After crossing the BISRCIborder the Bangladeshi participants joined and all participants headed towards Shyamnagar, Satkhira, Bangladesh – the first destination – and had their lunchof on way. The entire journey took around four hours before the contingent reached Barsha Hotel, Shyamnagar at around 6 pm and settled in their respective rooms.

Orientation meeting behalf At 7 pm participants were gathered in an orientation meeting where they first interacted with local people to have an overallDraft idea about Bangladesh Sundarban particularly regarding the primaryon & alternative livelihoods of people living in Bangladesh Sundarban. The interaction was followed by discussion among the media and Bangladeshi expert present in the meeting. and Observations of local people: Sobed Ali, Datinakhali for 1. AccordingDiscussion to this person, honey collection has been increased now as no. of trees are more in forest, so the flower & honey as well. In Satkhira range, conservation of forest is well practiced. 2. His groups earlier were used to sell honey to Mahajan (middleman) for a meager 80/- per kg rate. However since 2007, after joining in a cooperative, they now sell honey directly in market at a rate of 450/- per kg. Prepared3. Amount of honey generally collected in 29 dys is about 40 mon (1 mon = 40 kg) i.e., 1600kg of honey. About 10 to 35kg of honey is obtained from a bee hive in average. A person is used to have an income of about 30000-35,000 Bangladeshi Taka from a single honey collection season.

4. Similarly from crab collection one can earn about 20,000 Bangladeshi Taka. However often pirates forcibly take away lot of money 5. Female voices from community

1. The women were the members of women called self help group Janajibi Nari Unnayan Sangathan, which started in 2008 but started to operate properly after Aila in 2009. 2. Generally while the male members spend two months in forest for honey collection, their female members keep engaged themselves in different kind of livelihoods viz., home made pickle selling, handicrafts etc.BISRCI Pickle is prepared (in the month of August & September) from keora fruits which are collected from surroundings as it is banned in forest. of 3. Price of 250grms of honey is 150/-. which was 80/- earlier. This year the demand is more. So 400 jars of pickle have been prepared.

behalf Pavel Partho, an expert from the region Draft on 1. Bangladesh Sundarban has an unique hydro ecological zone and forest structure depends upon the river flow. As a matter of fact forest succession is different in different andranges. 2. In Sundarban, there is no edible leaf for human beings. There are very few fruits which are edible in Sundarban unless ripened. There is a unique germination in formangroves of Sundarban called viviparous germination. 3. There are Discussionmany social ritual & festivals irrespective of communality in Sundarban. 4. Climate change is affecting the ecosystem of Sundarban in many ways. Number of species has been greatly decreased in recent decades. River water becomes more saline due to shortage of rain in recent years. 5. Bangladesh government has been trying to develop more saline tolerant varieties Prepared of paddy to mitigate the situation. 6. After cyclone Aila, everything has been changed. The cyclone affected the traditional livelihoods and also the socioeconomic structure of Sundarban. People, who lost everything, moved to brickfields for living as they had no options left.

Joydeep Gupta: 1. There have been multiple problems, both traditional and newly generated, in Sundarban. There are problems like climate induced sea level rise, land erosion, heavy siltation, demographic growth, settlement pattern and environmental degradation among others. 2. The hydrometric disaster lines have gone up which causes storm, cyclones, sea level rise, intensified hydrological cycle etc. 3. The sharply falling productivity of agriculture in the Sundarban due to sea-level rise & salinity ingress is a fact of life. 4. Relative contribution of climate change vis-à-vis other factorsBISRCI viz. demographic growth, settlement pattern, environmental degradation are not certain and need probing. of 5. Downscaling of climate change impact on specific watersheds, basins, towns, villages or communities need to be done. 6. For generation of media stories, it is always advisable to refer to independent academics, international agencies like WMO. 7. Climate change is a very complexbehalf phenomena and hence, while reporting, avoid exaggeration and stick to peer reviewed studiesDraft as far as possible. 8. It is always handy to referon to the IPCC reports for doing stories 9. Often we tend to report disasters once they have taken place. Its better if one can report on a disaster in making. 10. Join the networkand of environmental and climate journalists to get better accesss to quality stories and other advantedges. for Jayanta BasuDiscussion

1. The UNESCO world heritage site Sunderban is the largest mangrove delta & a biodiversity hotspot spread over India & Bangladesh. 2. There is no human settlement in Bangladesh Sunderban but many millions within Sunderban influence zone, poverty ratio is also quite high. There are 102 islands Prepared in Indian Sunderban, 54 inhabited by human population. 3. Livelihoods in Sundarban mainly include agriculture & fishery. 4. During high tide, people are protected largely by mud embankments in Indian Sundarban; however by much stronger polders in Bangladesh. 5. Climate change has become part of the family in Indian Sundarban and changing the social equations.

6. Ghoramara island adjoining Sagar Island is a good example of climate impact. Once a large island having the biggest post office after Kolkata in state; now the island is on verge of disappearing loosing almost three- fourth of its land. The situation has come to such a pass that males in the island do not find a bride as nobody wants to get their daughter off to a place as uncertain as Ghoramara triggered by climate change. 7. Sundarban is affected both by traditional deficits coupled with climare induced threats. Sea level rise in Indian Sunderban is 8 mm. / yr which is more than double in global aspect. According to JU study, this sea level rise in Bangladesh is even more which is causing migration from one part of Sunderban to another part of Sunderban. In last 5 decades, an area (210 sq km) bigger than Kolkata( about 180 sq km ) has gone under water in Indian Sundarban. Number of storms has increased about 26%; mostly the high intensity storm. BISRCI 8. It is highly important to showcase transboundary Sundarban in global platforms as population wise ; the threat is huge. Indian Sunderban’s population is larger than the whole Scotland population. Bangladesh Sunderbansof is almost double of Singapore & population of Bangladesh & Indian Sunderbans, taken together, are equal to all 44 SID countries in global scenario but stand much more vulnerable. . 9. Sunderban people are more dependent on agriculture. Agriculture is something where nature is involved. So dependence on nature is much more in Indian & Bangladesh Sundarban. So we behalfneed to talk about both Sundarbans together. 10. Interestingly both Indian Sundarban and Bangladesh Sundarban are equally impacted as nearly one – fourth of their respectiveDraft population remain highly threatened as per Worldon Bank report. 11. In 2010, Indian & Bangladesh environment minister came to Calcutta & first meeting was held being organized by various civil society groups including media houses fromand two countries on transboundary Sundarban and its climate vulnerability. In the next year, MOU was signed between Prime Ministers of these two countries. In 2015, Narendra Modi also signed agreement on Sundarban and climatefor change when he visited to Bangladesh. 12. In last 3-4 years, we are having 500 documented interactions on both Sundarbans; more in IndianDiscussion part. As a follow up four dominant issues came out or immidiate as main priorities: Climate Change impact; Livelihood issues; Poverty alleviation and Ecotourism issues. 13. Interestingly, out of these four issues, if the climate change issue is not integrated with others; the overall development may suffer. Hence it is required to impact if is taken out, then nothing will survive. So we need to integrate the climate change issue in the whole discourse & media has an important role to play in the context. Prepared14. The Bangladesh delta plans 2100 is a good referral point to under the dynamics of future climate change in the region and develop stories accordingly. 15. The outline of Sundarban Media Assignment has been shared along with its broad components.

Day 2 (24.02.18): Participants visited to Magrakuni village where an impressive mangrove plantation has been undertaken by local people on about 100 acre land after Aila. The effort was prodded by the understanding that the mangrove plantation can largely minimize the impact of storm and inundation. People of the village have been attempting different type of initiatives by themselves with the support from NGO’s working in the area.. Women also contribute in the fight againt climate change and support their male members by doing small scale crab farming in their highly salineBISRCI ponds. are also very labourous to earn some livelihood for their family, so they are doing crab farming in a small scale in their pond. of

Observations of Local People: Mahadeb Gayen & Kenaram Gayen 1. With salinity increasing crab and prawn farming are the only options left for livelihood. behalf 2. General infrastructure is not adequate. Draft 3. As availability of wood as fuel is inadequate hence so we collect leaves, dry them up to use as fuel. on 4. In 2015, mangoves were planted over an area of 300 bighas. Before plantation there were many problems like land erosion, water surge etc. but after plantation, most of theand problem have been reduced. 5. Fish farming has been affected due to viral diseases & river pollution is another majorfor issue now. Previously fishermen could catch 3-4 kg prawns but it has been reduced to a kilogram per dsy now . Crab, though has now turned into a lucrative livelihood Discussionoption due to high financial return, has also started to suffer. 6. However mangrove plantation has improved the availability local fauna up to 2-3 times.

Observations of local women: Archana Gayen and Sushama Gayen : Prepared1. According to them, land slide is minimal due to mangrove plantation after Aila and even tidal waves have also lowered.

2. Women were given training by different organizations after Aila.

3. More and more people are getting into crab farming because crab can be cultivated in more saline water than prawn, crab is also very hardy as it shows higher resistance to diseases. But the farming of crab is costlier than prawn farming though the return is also impressive. Small scale women farmers are earning 3000 Bangladeshi taka per month and hence also contributing to the coffer of their families and the education of their children.

4. However those working long hour in the saline water farm are exposed to skin diseases.

5. Few years back, locals used to migrate from Bangladesh to India for unskilled labour oriented jobs like those in brickfields, but the trend has slowed down reasonably now. BISRCI

Media persons interacted with the locals as a group , andof also individually in context to media outputs those they planned.

From Magurkuni village participants went to Talberia village to meet Moyna Rani Mondal who developed a low fumebehalf (and hence less polluted) wood stove model and has got many recognitions for her initiative Draft on Moynarani Mondol: Talberia, village, Shyamnagar. Moynarani is an enigma who without any formal education, has built up a smoke less chulahand which is not only considered a model in the area but has won her many recognitions nationally and internationally. Her family experiences and innovative mind has led to the discovery which has allowed women in the area to cook in smokelessfor condition and save them from indoor pollution, which otherwise would have caused many health problems particularly the respiratory ones. The price of each chulaDiscussion is less than 2000 taka, takes about 2 hours to be manufactured, and Moynarani almost turned it into a mission by training many women to build up these smokeless chulahs. These sustainable wood burning stoves of different sizes & different have the following characteristics: Prepared . Less fuel required. . No smoke inside the room. . No burning sensation of eyes. . No heat sensation in hands. . Ashes could be easily separated.

After that participants went to Gabura Island via boat to see climate change effects in the area and also visited Kholishabunia village to see a local level climate adapted farming initiative by local farmer Md. Abdul Hamid. Sbsequently participants interacted with a tiger widow named Sabina Begum. In the afternoon participants checked out from Barsa Hotel and left for Mongla , reached there by night and checked in at Pashur Hotel as well as a government guest house.

Day 3 (25.02.18)

In the morning participants were introduced to Janab ZulfikarBISRCI Ali, Mayor, Mongla Port Municipality and subsequently went to Joymonigol ; a village with tell-tale example of climate change impacts and river erosion . Participantsof experienced crab farming and agriculture efforst, rain water harvesting, adaptation to climate change and also talked with local community.

Voice from the community behalf Draft Observations of a localon couple : Tripti Mondol and Kishore Mondol: 1. The water level is constantly increasing, particularly during high tides when the entire land mass becomes water logged. We constructed a house less than two years ago which was raised about 2 to 3 feet from land. This is proving inadequateand now with rising river and hence they are in process of constructing an even more raised mud house. 2. During four to five times an year, there are high intensity weather events and forlocal people go to cyclone shelters after early warning system is employed both thoughDiscussion microphone and visual mode with various coloured flags. 3. Migration is not a good option as these people have hardly any expertise to adjust to outer world ; and moreover hardly can bear the cost of migration; and hence mostly stayed put and try to adapt with the situation. 4. Increasing salinity pushes them towards prawn & crab culture instead of paddy cultivation. 5. Health service is very poor here and people have to go to Mongla or Khulna to Prepared get quality health care. 6. Small solar panel is seen in almost every house. 7. Scarcity of drinking water is the major problem here. Price of water is very high (about 20 taka per 30 litres) and hence most people harvest rain water for drinking.

8. Their demand to the govt is to have quality embankment & cyclone shelters; as well as appropriate physical and social infrastructure to ensure minimum quality of life.

Local observations: Laily Begum and Rumi Begum

We don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Tiger is hardly an issue here but the climate change is … we have to raise out houses almost regularly with the water level constantly increasing. Still we remain frieghtened during night, especially in pre monsoon and monsoon when the big storms and floods happen. We also remain quite frieghened when the maleBISRCI members of family go out in deep river for fishing , which remains the only livelihood with agricultural land get saline. It is quite ironicalof that with so much water around we virtually have no fresh water and can not bath for days leading to various skin infections. For anything important we have to go to Mongla which is few hours away on boat. Children go to school but donot know what will happen once they will grow older. behalf Interview with Zulfiker Ali, Mayor, Mongla;Draft one of the most climate vulnerable cities n the region of Bangladeshon Conducted by Jayanta Basu and Joydeep Gupta JB - For how andmany years you are in this post? ZA - 7 years from 2011.

JB -for You are an inhabitant of Mongla . How do you find things changing here? What do you feel? Discussion ZA - In 1970, ships were used to carry 20,000- 25,000 tonnes goods on this Mongla river. But now, even a boat cannot move due to excessive siltation with even dredging fails to keep water in its proper level. Water is turning saline, green house effect happening. Government has ordered to dredge Chela river for ensuring better navigation.

PreparedJG - How do you know that increase in salinity in this river?

ZA- Salinity is measured by municipality.

JG - Was there any cultivation practiced in this region ?

ZA - Yes, paddy cultivation was practiced earlier. Now, due to salinity, there is no rabi crop. Paddy cultivation has almost stopped.

JG - Is there any practice of salt tolerant paddy variety?

ZA - Not in Mongla but may be in surrounding regions, the people find it is easier to cultivate prawns in bheris which is called white gold here.

JG - It becomes difficult to culture prawn in bheries at a stretch of 5-10 yrs as the soil & water become polluted. Do you find it here as well?

ZA- Yes. It is true. For this reason, Govt has developed khals. Now after few years, prawn culture gets shifted to new areas. BISRCI JB - This shift from paddy to shrimp & then to crab may cause food crisis?

ZA - Yes, certainly it may happen. People of this regionof are getting crops from outside as Mongla is a port region. There is no agriculture here.

JG - If there is prawn & crab crisis, then there will be crisis in whole economy. What is your opinion?

ZA – Government is trying to shiftbehalf to the rabi crop by constructing bheri bandhs & rain water harvesting. Already it is being practicedDraft in one side of the river where paddy, watermelon, differenton vegetables are being grown and send to Dhaka. JB - When this crisis of paddy cultivation started? ZA - After Ailaand. JB - Erosion throughout a large area in Mongla is happening. Is it happening everywhere?for ZA - Yes, it is Discussionhappening JB - Difference between Indian & Bangladesh Sunderban is that while in Indian Sundarban,; village & forest are in close proximity but in Bangladesh , forest is totally isolated. But , it seems now that with mounting climate change, man and animal conflict may get bigger …

ZA- Yes. In Satkhira line it can be seen. In Bangladesh Sundarban, normally rivers Prepareddifferentiates the forest. But the rivers are getting lost. So possibility of interaction between man & tiger is increasing & happening as well.

JB - Is there any poaching report ?

ZA - Yes. Perhaps for saving themselves, people may do this.

JB - As mayor, what is your thought, your plan, to protect your city from climate change impact ?

ZA - During Purnima (full moon day) and Amabosya (new moon day) ,the whole city of Mongla ( 22 sq km ) was used to get flooded under about 3 ft of water. I undertook various assignments, improved the drainage system over 45 km ; so that the regular inundation can be stopped . Not only we have undertaken this exercise once, but we maintain the system regularly ;for example the Bheribandh (embankments) was elevated in 2014. Vetiver grass has also been used to stop erosion. As a result the value of land in Mongla has increased many times in recent years. This is a good example of combating climate change. BISRCI Discussion with other community members Md. Abdul Molla, Member, Human Rights Commissionof 1. Bangladesh Sundarban had 44% forest area which has been greatly impacted as a result of Aila , Cedar to 25% mainly due to storms like Ayla , cedar & also salinity . 2. Previously this loss was used to be repaired naturally, but now this is not seen due to both climatic impactsbehalf and also anthropological reasons like industrialization. Draft 3. This loss has directon impact upon the livelihood of Sundarban people specially on those who collect crab, fish. 4. This situation can be changed by changing livelihoods of these people which is a veryand difficult task. 5. To make it possible, people are to be trained so that their next generation can foradopt this changed livelihood or at least they can take the stride forward. 6. PoachingDiscussion is an important cause for the decrease in tiger number in the zone. 7. Catching of fish spawns continues to destroy different varieties of fish though the process is illegal.

Md Nizamuddin Bahadur, Representative from Mongla Municipality: Prepared 1. Sundarban is a god gifted island whoch can take care of itself. 2. Two years before, there was an oil spill on the Chela river i. A black oil layer was spread over water. ii. Hundreds of fishes died iii. Many trees got damaged

iv. The biodiversity was severely affected. But now the river has almost recovered from that incident completely of its own and now iravati dolphins can be seen here. 3. The villages beside this river is in a vulnerable position due to climate change and rising river and may be severely impacted in case of any high intensity natural calamity. Many people have already turned into climate refugees and the number is only going to increase.

Visit to Banishanta Island

In the afternoon the participants visited Banisanta UnionBISRCI Integrated Livelihood Transformation, Khulna and talked with the leader Razia. Banishanta happens to be the home of a registered brothel in Bangladesh;of which is also severely impacted by rising Pashur River and erosion cum submergence; that is associated with it. According to discussion, the island has been significantly shrunk over the last couple of decades. The number of women sex workers, which was once in excess of 1000; has been presently reduced to around 100, and the uncertainty of the climate change has a lot to do with the trend. “The island is breaking every day. Once the river was quite some behalfdistance away from our houses; but now it has almost come to our doorsteps. Every yearDraft after monsoon, we have to scout money and repair the banks ason far as possible to stave off further erosion. We do not know how long the island – and we – will survive from the ever rising river” said a woman in early forties. and In the evening we the media team had an extended meeting with the Mayor of Monglafor and shared key information about climate change n the area. Discussion Comments from the participants

Harjit Singh: . Prepared 1. There are lots of differences between Indian & Bangladesh Sundarbans. In Bangladesh Sunderbans, people continue to struggle to survive. Farmers have shifted from paddy cultivation to prawn & then to crab cultivation to accommodate higher level of salinity. Salinity has increased so much that their lands are not in a situation to grow paddy. This is a great example of cimate resilience as they are able to earn quite considerable amount per

month. They have found a way to adapt to the changing climate because they do not want to leave their land. They want to stay here & they are trying to find different ways of adapting. 2. In India, there are more economic opportunities. For them, it is easier to move to a bigger city or town like Kolkata or Delhi; which is not a case in Bangladesh Sundarban where migration is costly. 3. Because of limited opportunities, migration is not an option for the people of Bangladesh Sundarban and adaptation is the only way to survive. It is to be kept in mind that Bangladesh Sundarban is facing far more climate change vulnerabilities than India. Due to geographical location, here, disaster is an everyday phenomenon. They have learnt the art of living with disasters. So their power of resilience is much higher than what is seen in Indian Sundarban. BISRCI 4. The role of civil society and government mayof be more forceful in combating climate change in Bangladesh Sundarban. 5. In Bangladesh Sundarban, women are playing a dominating role in climate adaptation. Their positive attitude towards the survival instinct is the indicative of the strength of social structure in the region. 6. The people are taking differentbehalf initiatives of their own with support from various NGOs. Draft 7. It is needed to designon the adaptation activities & Bangladesh has been a champion in the field of climate adaptation. Even the capacity of government has to be increased which requires more financial aids coming from the internationaland organizations. 8. It is our mission to understand challenges faced by Sundarban of both sides & find out how they have been trying to overcome the challenge by having forgood action and activities in our own countries but also try to find out ways how to co-operate at different levels; at govt. levels, civil society level, media level Discussionbecause the challenges faced are much bigger.

Manipadma Jena: The strength of people of Bangladesh Sundarban is extremely high vis-à-vis combating climate change and its worthwhile to study in details the process that Prepared they have followed.

Local Bangladeshi journalists: 1. Local reporters should give importance to the issues concerning climate change.

2. The Mayor of Mongla has been taking various steps to counter climate change. 3. They assured to cooperate Indian reporters in context to the assignment and broadly on the issues of climate change.

After the meeting with Mayor, Mongla; media team departed from Mongla to reach Khulna at night and stayed at Hotel Ambassador.

Day 4 (26.02.18) In the morning the India and Bangladeshi media teams BISRCIheaded for their respective destinations at Kolkata and Dhaka respectively. The Indian team crossed border at Vomra – Ghojadanga Border near Basirhat withinof North 24 Parganas in West Bengal, India.

3.1. Key findings and recommendation:‐

A. The key findings, observations andbehalf recommendation , as listed from various deliberations, are listed below. Draft 1. Need to report moreon on livelihood issues. 2. More coverage on climate related issues in both Sundarban 3. More coverage on population increase vis‐à‐vis sustainability and eco system protection.and 4. Formation of environmental journalist group on Sundarban from both Bangldesh and India, and require coordination between them. 5.for Independent Sundarbans platform that can work on its own with government and may create trans‐boundary membership and mentorship. 6. More focusDiscussion on transboundary Sundarba ns on the Human Development aspect because the area is one of the poorest regions of the world as well as highly vulnerable to climate change. 7. It is important to generate interaction between India and Bangladesh among all stake holders including journalists, researchers, and policy makers, so that they can exchange learnings and experience to facilitate quality outcome. Prepared 8. Emphasis on migration specially migration of women and girl children as a consequence of climate change 9. Production of dynamic joint narrative of India and Bangladesh focusing on common issues of Sundarbans. 10. Holistic understanding, research and proper conservation plan for Sundarbans pertaining its trans‐boundary water resources, forests and biodiversities;

creating robust data base. 11. Strategic river management can reduce the impacts of Salinity 12. Need to address the transboundary river issues by building a Joint river commission. 13. Need to get rid of criminal activities like poaching, illegal fishing, robbery around Sundarbans – threats to human and nature. 14. Training and workshop for the local journalists (from Sundarnbans region and surrounding cities) from both sides.

15. Studying Case studies from SAARC countries and other country conglomerate to highlight how the respective media has played key roles to the betterment of their regions. BISRCI 16. Modify local school syllabus in order to increase awareness about Sundarban. of 17. Need to build a common ground for addressing security, because Sundarban is one of the most important National security zones for both countries. 18. Reporting to encourage on Home‐Stay eco tourism to benefit local livelihood as well as ensuring less impact for the enbehalfvironment. 19. Aggressive/Positive media campaign onDraft common transboundary issues (Print, Electronic and Social Media) considering Sundarbans as a single ecological unit. on 20. Photo exhibition travelling in the metros as well as Sundarbans 21. News Web Portal on Sundarbans that has to be trilingual (English , Bengali and Hindi)and including audio‐visual contents, research and experts’ comments and should be interactive for common people. 22. Need to control the commercial trawlers and unplanned shrimp farmin 23.for Involve other SAARC countries and those in the regions regarding Sundarban. 24 Proper manDiscussionagement of ground water, surface water (water bodies) as well as rain water harvesting 25. Focus the issue of Climate refugee who still don’t have a formal standing as refugees and hence don’t get compensation for climate triggered impacts. 26. Community Radio in Bengali & also in local dialect to increase awareness and education involving national radio. Prepared 27. Wildlife management in the border areas; exchange information and better results

28. Good communication among civil society, media and Government is important. Their roles are vital in this context. 29. Re evaluate those existing MoU’s between India & Bangladesh on Sundarbans

and related issues and also operationalise them immediately.

30. There should be a multilateral and strong bilateral narrative for transboundary Sundarbans for better and wider reception within all stakeholders. 31. Focus on health, physical infrastructure & communication especially in context to climate change. 32. The media needs to raise the level of Sundarbans discourse at the national and international level as well as taking responsibility of advocating the change 33. Sundarbans should be a plastic free zone. 34. Forming a Sundarban society to create awareness innovatively with the help of social media and website. 35. Address issues / proposed assignments, which are of concern to Sundarbans. 36. Focus on agriculture, often greatly affected in absenceBISRCI of proper irrigation system. 37. Focus on areas in Sundarbans being prone to arsenicof contamination 38. Focus on pollution from different sources, which damage the eco‐ system of Sundarbans. 39. Focus on Improvement of embankment. 40. Co‐management in Indian and Bangladesh Sundarbans to counter major natural or manmade disasters. behalf 41. Focus on encroachment of forests and Draftman animal conflict. 42. Kathmandu Declarationon of SAARC states should be duly recognized.

and

for 3.2. Status of other Components Discussion

3.2.1 Formulation of Strategy for facilitating media collaboration on Sundarbans & Facilitating finalization of specific collaborative media proposals and rolling out activity on ground Prepared Several meetings have been already held with editorial and senior level media professionals from esteemed media houses in both countries (The Telegraph, Anandabazar Patrika, Prothom Alo, Dhaka Tribune, Zee Group in India particularly 24 Ghanta, 24 Ghanta audio visual channel in Bangladesh, Channel I) to understand the dynamics. The reflection of the association may well be understood in the wide participation of journalists from two countries as detailed above. As a

matter of fact, within the significant number of stories published, number of them touched upon the transboundary issues. Presently a status paper is in process of preparation on the proposed collaboration and, once ready, will be shared within stakeholders particularly media personels ; to formalize the process. Over and above the abovementioned initiatives; specific collaborative other proposals in print media are also in the pipeline and are expected to be taken up once the monsoon recedes; and access to transboundary Sundarban becomes convenient. The issue of transboundary coverage has also being discussed with Prasarbharati / Akashbani in the Maitree channel which is broadcast in both India and Bangladesh. The proposal from EnGIO has been okayed in principal and the exact modalities are now being discussed.

3.2.2. Setting up and running of an Interactive and Collaborative Sundarban website and related social media tools (ORF) BISRCI

3.2.3. Provision of Sundarban Media Fellowships (The Thirdof Pole)

3.3. Outcome and / or impact of the event: ‐

The outcome and impact of the assignment hasbehalf been quite satisfactory so far as it could reasonably achieve the major stated objective of the assignmentDraft; i.e facilitating appropriate media discourse and publications to highlighton the issues of trans boundary Sundarban especially climate change issues and prod advocacy on the same. So far about 40 media products in English, Bengali and Hindi have been published / broadcast on the issues within narrow window of time ( list annexed) over a wide rangeand of media; from local to regional to national and international media , and covered print, audio visual and web media. Clearly the issue could garner international attention as the forissue of transboundary Sundarban has been subsequently discussed at various important international meetingsDiscussion particularly the meeting on Loss and Damage under UNFCCC.

3.4 Way forward:

The first of its kind Sundarban Media Programme has broadly outlined the way forward as follows.

PreparedThe major way forward modes are as listed below

1. Continue the dialogue within media representatives of both India and Bangladesh targeting greater understanding, exchanges and exposure both as macro and micro levels; and trying to create the strategy to formulate a joint platform of media action on Sundarban.

2. Targeting and executing possible media collaboration on Sundarban.

3. Make Sundarban Webportal live

4. Providing Sundarban media fellowshops and generation of stories

5. More focused and targeted media linked trans boundary Sundarban advocacy vis-à-vis climate change

4. Lessons learnt:

4.1. Salient features:

The idea of undertaking Sundarban media programme with exposure trips/ meetings has been overall well taken and, so far, has been able to cater to the desired objectivesBISRCI to a reasonable extent. However we need to build on the success and facilitate more structured collaboration and interface to pave sustainability of the process. of 4.2. Challenges faced:

There are few challenges in implementing the Sundarban Media Programme as envisaged; which are as follows: behalf 1. The respective importance of Sundarban in two countries s different. While in India, Sundarban is only located in West Bengal andDraft does not get any overwhelming importance; in case of Bangladeshon the situation is reverse. 2. The priorities of media coverage are slightly different in line of the differing demographics of two countries; while Bangladesh Sundarban does not have any human settlement, in Indian Sundarban wild life habitats and human habitats often remain in adjoining manner.and 3. The weather of Sundarban often proves to be a challenge as it is often difficult to cover Sundarban from May- June to August due to first norwesters followed by monsoon. This limitsfor the trips to Sundarban and coverage during the period. 4. Though buildingDiscussion up a joint media platform h as been appreciated by one and all in both countries, the understanding about the platform; its susteinance and modus operandi and outputs still remain unclear; though efforts are currently underway to crystalise the concept as far as possible.

4.3. Degree of engagement: Prepared The degree of engagement as expressed by the delegates has been exemplary. Though few senior journalists from both countries were more engaged than others but the degree of overall participation has been quite good. The non media delegates also contributed significantly in the process.

4.4. Overall the process:

It’s a novel mode of discourse and there are bound to be some hiccups in the overall process. However the participants contributed significantly to ensure that such hiccups remain minimal and the overall process remains reasonably smooth.

4.5. General recommendation

4.5.1. More media coverage of trans boundary Sundarban; both vertically and horizontally

4.5.2 Continue the process of intra and inter engagement and dialogue within media representatives of both India and Bangladesh targeting greater understanding, exchanges and exposure both as macro and micro levels. BISRCI 4.5.3. Continue focusing the issues of Sundarbans in global platforms vis‐à‐vis climate change impacts considering “Sundarbans; single ecological unit” understanding. of 4.5.4. Creation of Sundarbans joint platform including media platform including social media interface.

4.5.5. Continuous strenthening on the implementation of Sundarbans media strategy. behalf . Draft 4.5.6. More linkage of local and mainstreamon media on Sundarban coverage

4.5.7. Enhanced media – experts – political executives interface aimed to influence policy and practice in two countrandies (including in West Bengal) about Sundarbans

for 5. EXPECTED OUTCOMESDiscussion & DELIVERABLES

The expected outcomes and deliverables of the assignment may be assessed at two levels; immediate and long term.

PreparedThe immediate deliverables of the assignment are as follows; 1. Improvement of both quality and quantity of pan Sundarban related coverage ; with increasing focus on narratives those reflect transboundary angle including climate change impacts 2. Spread of knowledge, understanding and awareness about transboundary Sundarban in public domain through collaborative transboundary exercise

3. Setting of a functional Sundarban Media webportal to work as an anchor to the entire discourse on Sundarban facilitating to and fro embrace with conventional and new media 4. Capacity development of journalists from both countries as well as beyond vis-à-vis coverage of Sundarbans. 5. Development of the strategy to create joint platform of journalists’ vis-à-vis Sundarban.

The long term deliverables of the assignment are as follows; 1. Sustained coverage of critical issues pertaining to transboundary Sundarban

2. Advocacy within stakeholders including politicians to look at Sundarban as a single ecological unit and develop communication strategy accordingly.BISRCI

3. Increase the constituency of Sundarban in international ofparleys about climate change and seek appropriate international support as possible.

4. Prepare the joint platform of journalists’ vis-à-vis Sundarban

5. Sustainance of the social media platforms on Sundarban particularly Sundarban webportal. behalf Draft on

and

for Discussion

Prepared

BISRCI

behalf Draft on and for ANNEXURE Discussion

Prepared

Annexure – I A

Indian Sundarban Tour Programme & Advisory for 13 – 15 December 2017

Time Activity Remark Day – 1 1 Participants outside Kolkata will arrive Kolkata Somebody will receiveBISRCI them Contact no. Airport around 9 am with a board “Sundarban Media Sumit Chakraborty Assignment” (in front of the Gate no. 3) onceof all participants 9830827588 come out of airport (after Surajit Purkait immigration for international passenger & luggage correction 8017290423 for all), the team will get into an behalfAC Bus at ab out 9.45 am. 2 Participants from Kolkata as well as outstation – The busDraft will collect them at arrived earlier - will assemble at abouton Paroma about 10.15 to 10.30 am. (opp to Science City, towards Garia on EM Breakfast will be served in the Bypass/ adjoining side road) bus 3 Reach Godkhali and get intoand the boat. At about 1.30 pm. Lunch will be served in the boat. 4 Get down at Gosaba to have a look at Hamilton Get into Hamilton Island, Island. Sir Daniel Mackinnon Hamilton (6 for 2.30 – 3.00 pm December 1860 – 6 December 1939) started country’s first consumer cooperativeDiscussion society in Sundarbans , visited by Nobel Laureate poet, Rabindranath Tagor 5 Visit to islands effected by Aila and other In boat 3 pm – 4 pm extreme weather events at Gosaba Prepared6 Arrive Bali and settle in respected room 4.30pm – 5.00 pm 7 Interaction with local people regarding 6 pm – 8.30 pm livelihood & social issues in Sundarban followed by Orientation meeting 8 Dinner 8.30 pm

Day – 2 1 Walking around the villages in Bali followed by 7 am – 8.30 am breakfast 2 Visit to Sudhanyakhali forest through the creeks 8.30 am – 10.30 am of Sundarban 3 Visit Rangabelia island to see the alternate 11.00 am - 1.00 pm development model of Tagore Rural Society 4 Reach Godkhali , have lunch in boat on the way 1 pm – 2 pm 8 Departure for Bakkhali at bus and reach 7.30 pm Bakkhali 9 Settle in hotel , visit sea beach and dinner 8 pm – 10 pm BISRCI Day – 3 of 1 Breakfast 7 am 2 Visit to Mousuni Island, the journey will take Reach Mousuni by 9 am around 1.30 hour (including bus & boat) 3 Visit Mousuni (a severe climate impacted 9 am – 11 am island) at the doorstep of Bay of Bengal behalf 4 From Bakkhali to Namkhana and start for ReachDraft Namkhana by 12.30 pm Kolkata, lunch in boat on 5 Reach Kolkata Airport around 4 pm 6 Bus will terminate at Bhowanipurand and Kolkata participants can get down at their appropriate points for

IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTEDiscussion 1. All transport, accommodation and food (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) will be borne by the organizers, however hard drinks will not be provided by the organizers. 2. December temperature : 9°C - 22°C  Please carry warm clothes in winter, it might get chilly. You do not need to carry sleeping Preparedbags or blankets. 3. A cameraman will be made available for audio visual media & hence journalists from audio visual media are requested to bring their channel logo & utilize the cameraman for generating respective footage with prior intimation.

4. For Indians we need any kind of photo id proof, and for foreign travelers original PASSPORT is a must, which they have to carry on their travel. We will do all the necessary permissions and permits. 5. Please keep in mind that telephone & internet connection may not be smooth during the entire stretch of the trip. 6. As there are limited accommodations available, participants will have to share accommodation. 7. Please mention ASAP, if someone is strictly vegetarian. 8. Please submit all boarding passes.

Annexure – I B BISRCI Bangladesh Sundarban Tour Programme & Advisory forof 23 – 26 February 2018 The broad schedule is as follows:

Day Activity

23 Feb Bangladesh Group take flight from Dhaka to Jessore, from Jessore to Shyamnagar by micro bus behalf Indian Group assembles in Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) at about 9.15 – 9.30 am, and then proceedsDraft to Ghojadanga Border. After crossing border reach Shyamnagaron via micro bus

An evening orientation & interaction meeting, stay at Barsa Resort, Shyamnagar

24 Feb Field visit to Shyamnagarand and Gabura Island (observe climate change, tiger widows village etc.)

Proceedfor to Mongla, stay at Mongla

25 Feb Cruise trip to BangladeshDiscussion Sundarban, visit Joymonipur (Cedar affected area) and other parts of Sundarban Meeting at Mongla with Mayor & other Climate Change stakeholders Shift to Khulna, stay at Khulna

26 Feb Both India & Bangladesh Group starts after breakfast

Prepared Bangladesh Group till Jessore Airport

Indian Group back to Kolkata via Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) Important 1. All transport, accommodation and food (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) Points to Note will be borne by the organizers, however hard drinks will not be provided

by the organizers.

3. For Bangladeshi participants we need any kind of photo id proof, and for Indian travelers original PASSPORT is a must, which they have to carry on their travel. We will do all the necessary permissions and permits.

4. Please keep in mind that telephone & internet connection may not be smooth during the entire stretch of the trip.

5. As there are limited accommodations available, participants will have to share accommodation.

6. Please mention ASAP, if someone is strictly vegetarian.

7. Please submit all boarding passes. This is an out lined programme which may marginally change as per situation.BISRCI of

Annexure – II Sundarban Mediabehalf Programme 13 – 15 December, 2017Draft Backdrop on The Sundarbans ecoregion presents one of the most biologically productive and diverse ecosystems of the Indian Sub-continent and harbours wide range of floral and faunal species.The ecologically fragile transboundary region is spread overand 26,000sq km and home to about 13 million people (around 4.5 million in Indian Sundarbans) ; half of which lie below the poverty line, and majority relying on subsistence agriculture and fishing. Moreover the eco-region is also traditionally backward in terms of conventional developmentalfor characteristics due to lack of modern energy services, infrastructural improvement, healthcare delivery etc.These islands are also prone to changing weather patterns, erratic storms and cyclones and rising seaDiscussion levels, which often cause flooding of agricultural fields with brackish water, destroying the high yielding varieties of paddy crops as well as indigenous paddy varieties that cannot withstand salinity.

Despite national and international efforts toward prompt mitigation, it is increasingly likely that the world will experience 2°C and more of global warming. Under such circumstances, pursuing a long-term adaptation decision becomes even more crucial. As nations throughout the world prepare to adapt to the Preparedconsequences of climate change, the extremely vulnerable Sundarbans ecoregion region requires urgent attention. World bank studies indicate that around 1.5 million people in Indian Sundarban stand acutely exposed to the extreme threat of climate change.

Current policies and management practices in Sundarbans ecoregion are inadequate to address the issues of physical process and ever-expanding population. Less than required institutional collaboration between

different departments magnifies the problem. Development interventions are being carried out without taking into the notice the change in physical environment which makes it often difficult to ascertain the types of interventions that would be most effective in mitigating adverse effects of climate change impacts and improving the existing poverty conditions.

It is imperative that the Sundarbans of India and Bangladesh be visualised as a single biogeographical entity. To achieve conservation goals in the ecoregion, international cooperation should help develop strategies that define a common understanding of conservation initiatives in the two countries. Keeping this in mind, transboundary initiatives led by civil society groups from both the countries facilitated Bangladesh and India to sign MoUs on a host of issues to pave the way for joint actions in Sundarbans. In 2015, the meeting between Indian and Bangladesh Prime Ministers in Dhaka had also finalized agreements on few more issues related to Sundarbans. In 2010, prior to signing the Sundarbans MoU between Bangladesh and India, a Sundarbans Platform was also organized involving experts from both countries. However this was an informal guild of experts, which has stopped theBISRCI discussions since 2012 and again restarted from 2014 and now a formal consortium, called Bangladesh India Sundarban Region Cooperation Initiative (BISCRI) has been built. BISRCI has recently facilitatedof a meeting of environment ministers of India and Bangladesh on Sundarban at the sidelines of Paris climate CoP; a first of its kind exercise.

In view of the situation facing the eco-region, WWF-India has been entrusted by World Bank to organise a multi-stakeholder engagement with active collaboration from EnGIO to develop an alternative scenario to the “business as usual” informed by best available currentbehalf knowledge and research. Media is a key component in this dialogue process. Draft This particular meeting, including mainly mediaon and communication professionals, is slated to discuss the present and potential dynamics , strategy and possible media roadmap to contribute to the enhancement of climate resilience in Sundarban and play a critical role in finalisation and execution of government policies ; understanding and actionand of other stakeholders and catering to the awareness and action of people per se. Studies, supported by World Bank, state nearly 1.5 million people live in transitional zone in Sundarban which is quitefor susceptible to climate threats. A. MoUs for cooperation on Sundarbans as signed on September 6, 2011 Bangladesh and India signed (nonDiscussion-binding) agreements on September 6th2011 on a number of issues to pave the way for joint action. Following are the highlights of the bilateral agreements between the two countries on the Sundarbans or relevant to the landscape.

Sl. Name of Salient features PreparedNo. Agreement/ MOU

Sl. Name of Salient features No. Agreement/ MOU

Framework Lays down the framework for enhancing mutually beneficial bilateral Agreement on cooperation in a wide range of areas. These include promotion of trade, Cooperation for investment and economic cooperation; connectivity; water resources; Development management of natural disasters; generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, including from renewable or other sources; promotion of scientific, educational and cultural cooperation; People to people exchanges; environmental protection and responding to challenges of climate change through adaptation; sub regional cooperation in the power sector, water resources management, physical connectivity, environmentBISRCI and sustainable development; and enhancing cooperation in security.

2 MOU on Seeks to facilitate cooperation in the areas ofof conservation of biodiversity, Conservation of joint management of resources, livelihood generation for poverty alleviation the Sundarban and development, cataloguing of local flora and fauna and studying the impacts of climate change.

3 Protocol on Provides for bilateral cooperation in undertaking scientific research, conservation of knowledge sharing and patrollingbehalf of the Sundarban waterways on their the Royal respective sides to prevent poachingDraft or smuggling of derivatives from wildlife Bengal Tiger of and bilateral initiativeson to ensure survival and conservation of the Royal the Bengal Tiger in the unique ecosystem of the Sundarban.

Sundarban The Protocol also provides for cooperation to promote understanding & knowledgeand of Royal Bengal Tigers, exchange of personnel for training and promotion of education. 4 MOU on forSeeks to promote development of cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture cooperation and allied activities between the two countries through joint activities, programmes,Discussion exchange of scientific materials, information and personnel. in the field of fisheries

B. MoUs for cooperation on Sundarbans as signed on June 6, 2015 PreparedBangladesh and India signed (non-binding) agreements on June 6th, 2015 on a number of issues to pave the way for joint action. Following are the highlights of the bilateral agreements between the two countries on the Sundarbans or relevant to the landscape

Sl. Name of Agreement/ MOU Salient features No.

1 Agreement on Coastal Shipping Agreement seeks to promote two-way trade between India and between Bangladesh and India Bangladesh through ports. Presently, shipping cargo plies between the countries through Colombo/Singapore/Klang ports. Coastal shipping will reduce shipping time and help in reducing congestion at the land ports.

2 Protocol on Inland Water Transit Protocol was first signed in 1972. and Trade (renewal) Protocol outlines mutually beneficial arrangements for use of waterways of both countries for commerce between them and for passage of goods between twoBISRCI places in one country and to third countries through the territory of the other under mutually agreed terms. Protocol hasof five years validity with automatic renewal.

3 Memorandum of Understanding Consequent to the settling of Maritime boundary between India between Coast Guards and Bangladesh, MOU seeks cooperation between both the Coast guards to ensure jointly marine security and prevent crimes atbehalf sea. 4 Memorandum of Understanding on MoU seeks to strengthenDraft cooperation to prevent all forms of Prevention of Human Trafficking onthe human trafficking; especially trafficking of Women and Children; Rescue, Recovery, ensuring the speedy investigation and prosecution of traffickers and organized crime syndicates in either country, including the repatriation of victims as and expeditiously as possible. Home country will undertake the safe and effective reintegration of the victims.

5 Memorandum offor Understanding on Envisages cooperation on blue economy and maritime sphere Blue Economy and MaritimeDiscussion for capacity building, training and joint research Cooperation in the Bay of Bengal collaborations, and setting up of a Joint Working Group to and the Indian Ocean further cooperation in this area

6 Memorandum of Understanding Assignment envisages supply of efficient and Improved cook for a Assignment under IECC stoves to 70000 rural households in Bangladesh. Assignment (India Endowment for Climate will be funded by India Endowment for Climate Change- PreparedChange) of SAARC South Asia (IECC-SA) established under SAARC, set up to meet climate change challenges in South Asia.

7 Cultural Exchange Programme for Programme envisages detailed plan of action and cooperation the years 2015-17 in the field of Art and Culture, Mass Media and Youth Affairs and Sports for the period 2015-2017.

Sl. Name of Agreement/ MOU Salient features No.

8 MoU between Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India, and University of MoU will facilitate joint study, assignment research and Dhaka, Bangladesh for Joint cooperation for training and capacity building in research on Oceanography in Bay Oceanography. of Bengal

BISRCI of Anticipated Dialogue Outputs

The dialogue presents a critical opening for experts to discuss and deliberate on the followings aspects of media dynamics in Sundarban: 1. Mode of mainstream coverage on Sundarbans?behalf Adequate; Inadequate; Minimal? Editorial importance? Draft 2. Are some areas more covered than others?on NGO piggybacking? 3. Main coverage focus in Sundarban? Again, is it NGO piggybacked or independent? 4. How much coverage is done on climate change? On Long term impact / Short term impact? Is it number driven? and 5. Training / Exposure / exchanges of mainstream media / local media? 6. Need for data / informationfor bank on Sundarban for media use? 7. What is the character of local media coverage? Whom it generally feeds? Level of circulation and penetration? Area of localDiscussion coverage dominance? Issues of local coverage dominance? Is it NGO linked? 8. Interface of local media and mainstream media? 9. Assessment of NGO communication? 10. Possible media strategy (based on presentation / discussion)? Prepared11. On Joint Sundarban Media Platform? Transboundary - within country? 12. Role and dynamics of audio visual media? 13. Need of media collaborations? 14. Anything else?

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Sl. Story heading Date of Name of the Name of Web link No Publishedand publication Journalist .

for Post Indian Sundarban Trip on December 2017

1 Koborkhanar 17.12.17Discussion Anandabazar Kuntak http://www.anandabazar.com/state/the matio kheye Patrika Chattapadhyay -moushuni-island-has-been-victim-to- niche bhangon the-erosion-1.725098?ref=state-new- (Erosion even not stry sparing the burial land)

Prepared2 Ek ishara hai 23.12.17 Navbharat Sudhir Mishra https://blogs.navbharattimes.indiatime dubta hua Times s.com/sudhirmisra/changing-climate- Sundarban is-big-threat-to-the-world/ (Sinking Sundarban is an indicator towards

future) 3 At Ground Zero, 24.12.17 The Telegraph Jayanta Basu https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/ Ground Giving and Chandrima west-bengal/at-ground-zero-ground- A ravenous sea, a S. Bhattacharya giving-195761 weathered people. 4 Climate bites off 24.12.17 The Telegraph Jayanta Basu https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/ Bengal toe and Chandrima climate-bites-off-bengal-toe-195935 S. Bhattacharya

5 Chenai – 31.12.17 Bwadip Barta Sajahan Siraz Local News Paper (No Link) Muriganga nodir sathe bongoposagar gile khachhe BISRCI Mousuni (Along with Chenai & of Muriganga river; Bay of Bengal also engulfing the Mousuni Island) 6 Graveyard of A 15.01.18 Outlook behalfDola Mitra https://www.outlookindia.com/magazi Land ne/story/graveyard-of-a-land/299684 Draft 7 Rising sea 15.01.18 The onThird Joydeep Gupta https://www.thethirdpole.net/2018/01/ swamps island Pole 15/rising-sea-swamps-island-along- along Bengal bengal-coast/ coast and

8 Rising sea 15.01.18 India Climate Joydeep Gupta http://indiaclimatedialogue.net/2018/0 swamps island for Dialogue 1/15/rising-sea-swamps-island-along- along Bengal bengal-coast/ coast Discussion

9 Rising sea 15.01.18 Business Joydeep Gupta http://www.business- swamps island Standard standard.com/article/news-ians/rising- along Bengal sea-swamps-island-along-bengal- Preparedcoast coast-118011500574_1.html

10 Sinking 17.01.18 India Climate Soumya http://indiaclimatedialogue.net/2018/0 Sundarbans Dialogue Sarkar 1/17/sinking-sundarbans-islands- islands underline-climate-crisis/ underline

climate crisis

11 Sinking 17.01.18 Six Degree Soumya http://demo.sixdegreesnews.org/feed- Sundarbans News Sarkar items/sinking-sundarbans-islands- islands underline-climate-crisis/ underline climate crisis

12 Sinking 22.01.18 Impact News Soumya http://www.impactnews.in/2018/02/14 Sundarbans Sarkar /sinking-sundarbans-BISRCIislands -underline- islands climate-crisis/ underline of climate crisis

13 Sinking 22.01.18 Economic Soumya https://energy.economictimes.indiatim Sundarbans: Times (Energy Sarkar es.com/news/renewable/sinking- Inexplicable lack World) behalf sundarbans-inexplicable-lack-ofof global concern Draftglobal-concern/62603515 on 14 ‘Babuder’ fele 27.02.18 Bartaman Rahul Dutta http://bartamanpatrika.com/detailNews jaoa aborjona saf Patrika .php?cID=13&nID=98690 kore Sundarban and rokhyar lorai grambasider (Villagers are for fighting to save Sundarban by Discussion cleaning the leftover garbage of the urban tourists)

15 Climate change 20.03.18 Climate Home By Harjeet http://www.climatechangenews.com/2 Preparedvictims need News Singh, Sven 018/03/20/climate-change-victims- money to survive, Harmeling and need-money-survive-not-words/ Julie-Anne not words Richards

Audio / Visual Media

16 Sundarban ke 20.12.17 NDTV Hridayesh https://khabar.ndtv.com/video/show/new parjaboron ko Joshi s/campaign-to-save-the-sunderbans- bachane ki environment-474981 muhim (Initiative to save the environment of Sundarban)

17 Sundarban par 10.01.18 NDTV Hridayesh https://khabar.ndtv.com/video/show/new jolobayu Joshi s/the-impact-of-climate-change-on-the- paribartan ka sunderbans-476346 asar, tapuoko BISRCI nigalta samudra ka pani (Effect of of climate change on Sundarban, sea water engulfing the islands )

18 Over 100 Islands 11.01.18 NDTV behalfHridayesh https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/over- In Sundarbans Joshi Draft100-islands-in-sundarbans-face- Face Existential existential-threat-as-sea-level-rises- Threat As Sea on 1798943 Level Rises

Postand Bangladesh Sundarban trip on February 2018

19 India, BD need to 28.02.18 The Daily Banani Mallick https://www.observerbd.com/details.p work together to for Observer hp?id=124698 save Sundarban: (Bangladesh) Experts Discussion

20 Keeping heads 06.03.18 The Third Joydeep Gupta https://www.thethirdpole.net/2018/03/ above rising sea, Pole 06/24047/ barely Prepared 21 Keeping heads 12.03.18 India Climate Joydeep Gupta http://indiaclimatedialogue.net/2018/0 above rising sea, Dialogue 3/12/keeping-heads-rising-sea-barely/ barely

22 Japanese appetite 07.03.18 The Third Soumya https://www.thethirdpole.net/2018/03/ drives crab Pole Sarkar 07/japanese-appetite-drives-crab- farming in the farming-in-the-sundarbans/ Sundarbans

23 Japanese appetite 12.03.18 Scroll.in Soumya https://scroll.in/article/871149/japanes drives crab Sarkar e-appetite-drives-crab-farming-in-the- farming in the sundarbans Sundarbans

24 Japanese appetite 13.03.18 India Climate Soumya http://indiaclimatedialogue.net/2018/0 drives crab Dialogue Sarkar 3/13/japanese-appetite-BISRCIdrives -crab- farming in the farming-sundarbans/ Sundarbans of

25 India lost 40% of 10.03.18 The Hindu Soumya http://www.thehindu.com/sci- its mangroves in Sarkar tech/energy-and-environment/india- the last century. lost-40-of-its-mangroves-in-the-last- And it’s putting century-and-its-putting-communities- communities at behalf at-risk/article22999935.ece risk Draft on 26 Rapid 16.03.18 The Third Soumya Sarkar https://www.thethirdpole.net/2018/03/ industrialisation Pole 16/rapid-industrialisation-poses- poses pollution pollution-risk-to-the-sundarbans/ risk to the Sundarbans and

27 FEATURE-As for18.03.18 Reuters Manipadma https://www.reuters.com/article/bangla floods rise in DiscussionJena desh-crabs-climatechange/feature-as- Bangladesh, crab floods-rise-in-bangladesh-crab- farming helps farming-helps-families-tread-water- families tread water idUSL8N1QY3N0

28 As floods rise in 18.03.18 Times of India https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/wo PreparedBangladesh, crab rld/south-asia/as-floods-rise-in- farming helps bangladesh-crab-farming-helps- families tread families-tread- water water/articleshow/63357403.cms

29 As floods rise in 18.03.18 Relief web Manipadma https://reliefweb.int/report/bangladesh/ Bangladesh, crab Jena floods-rise-bangladesh-crab-farming- farming helps helps-families-tread-water families tread water

30 As floods rise in 18.03.18 NewsOlive https://www.newsolive.com/2018/03/1 Bangladesh, crab 8/world-south-asia-as-floods-rise-in- farming helps bangladesh-crab-farming-helps- families tread families-tread-water-article243171/ water

31 As floods rise in 19.03.18 Texas http://www.texasenvironmentalnews.cBISRCI Bangladesh, crab Environmental om/as-floods-rise-in-bangladesh-crab- farming helps News farming-helps-families-tread-water/ families tread of water

32 As floods rise in 19.13.18 Farminguk Manipadma https://www.farminguk.com/World/As Bangladesh, crab Jena -floods-rise-in-Bangladesh-crab- farming helps behalf farming-helps-families-tread- families tread water_15321.html water Draft on 33 Pleasure Island 18.03.18 The Telegraph Jayanta Basu https://epaper.telegraphindia.com/pape and Chandrima r/18-0-18@[email protected]# and S. Bhattacharya

34 Macher prachurjo 16.03.18 Bonik Barta, Sahid Sahin http://bonikbarta.net/bangla/news/2018 harachhe for Bangladesh -03- Sundarban 16/151394/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6% (Sundarban rivers Discussion BE%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87%E0 losing its fish diversity) %A6%B0- %E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0% A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9A %E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A 7%8D%E0%A6%AF- %E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A Prepared 6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9A% E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7 %87- %E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%81%E0%A 6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%

E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6 %A8/

35 Panel focus on 19.03.18 The Telegraph Jayanta Basu https://www.telegraphindia.com/calcut Sunderbans ta/panel-focus-on-sunderbans-216772

36 Salty water 25.03.18 The Daily Banani Mallick http://www.observerbd.com/details.ph causes serious Observer p?id=129254 health hazard to (Bangladesh) women

Audio / Visual Media

37 Sundarbans: 11.03.18 ATN Bangla Manash Ghosh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5BISRCI Increasing Bangladesh d__lrBp7I&feature=youtu.be salinity of

38 Nona joler 01.03.18 Channel 24 G M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y durbhog e barche Bangladesh Mostafizul HxoICkR-kM dampotyo Alam joboner koloho (Saline water behalf creating problem Draft over conjugal on life)

39 Bangladesh ki 04.03.18 NDTV Hridayesh https://khabar.ndtv.com/video/show/ne Sundarban ka and Joshi ws/hopes-from-crab-farming-in- barta jolastor bangladesh-sundarban-480091 kekra palon rojgar ka jaria for (Crab farming is the main Discussion livelihood option for the people of Bangladesh Sundarban to fight against Sea Preparedlevel rising)

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Indian Sundarban

Day – 1 (13.12.17)

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Figure 1: At Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Figure 2: All theof participants were travelled in this bus Airport, Kolkata. throughout the journey.

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Figure 5: Lunch on board at Godkhali. Figure 6: On the way to Sonaga village, Gosaba Block.

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BISRCI Figure 7: Devastation caused by Aila 2009 is still prominent in Figure 8: A health centre destroyed by the Aila cyclone.

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Figure 11: Participants chatting with local people, Sonaga Figure 12: Sonaga village. village.

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Figure 13: Arrive Bali and settle in Tora Eco Resort & Life Figure 14: Orientationof meeting at the evening. Experience Centre.

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Figure 18: Pirkhali – 2 range at Sundarban Tiger Reserve.

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Figure 17: On the way to Sundarban Tiger Reserve.

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Figure 19: Arrived at Sudhanyakhali Camp, Sundarban Figure 20: Bonof Bibi temple inside the Sudhanyakhali Camp. Tiger Reserve.

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Figure 23: Participants on the watch tower. Figure 24: Nylon net fencing prevent tiger entering to the adjacent village across the river close to the tiger reserve.

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Figure 31: Deepak Hotel at Bakkhali. Figure 32: Way to the Mousuni Island. 118

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Figure 33: The journey was taken around 1.30 hour from the Figure 34: Reached Bagdanga Jetty Ghat under Mousuni Gram main land. Panchayat. of

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Figure 37: Interaction with local people at Mousuni Island. Figure 38: Interaction with local people at Mousuni Island. 119

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Figure 44: Polythene covered mud hut at Mousuni. 120

Figure 43: Local panchayat figures show that about 2,200 families have been displaced or affected severely by the rising sea in Mousuni.

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Annexure – VII.B Figure 49: Participants at Namkhana. Figure 50: Inside the bus, on the way to Kolkata.

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Bangladesh Sundarban Day – 1 (23.02.18)

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Figure 7: An evening orientation & interaction meeting, at Figure 8: Sabed Ali and his wife from Datinakhali were Barsa Resort, Shyamnagar present at the orientationBISRCI meeting as local representatives. of Day – 2 (24.02.18)

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Figure 11: Local interaction at Magurakuni. Figure 12: A local women crab farmer at Magurakuni village. 123

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Figure 13: Moynarani mondol, wood burning stove inventor Figure 14: Moynaraniof mondol, wood burning stove inventor at at Talberia, village, Shyamnagar Talberia, village, Shyamnagar. She won many awards and recognition from different level.

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Figure 17: Sustainable farming initiative by a local farmer Md Figure 18: Participants were in a tiger widow village at Abdul Hamid at Gabura Island, Shyamnagar, Satkhira Gabura Island. 124

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Figure 22: Participants gathered at breakfast at Hotel Figure 23: Participants were in a cruise trip to Bangladesh Pashur. Sundarban from Mongla Port along with Mayor. 125

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Figure 26: Interaction with locals. Figure 27: Mondal couple at Joymonirgola village, who building their house on a raised level as a precaution from water surge.

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Figure 28: A local mud crab farm Figure 29: At Joymonirgola village. 126

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Figure 32: Interpretation Centre, Sundarban East Forest Figure 33: Interpretation Centre, Sundarban East Forest Division, Bagerhat Division, Bagerhat

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Figure 34: Sundarban forest, Bagerhat Figure 35: Banishanta Island, Khulna 127

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Annexure II : Details of Publications

Sl. Story heading Date of Name of the Name of Web link No. Publish publication Journalist ed

Post Indian Sundarban Trip on December 2017

1 Koborkhanar 17.12.17 Anandabazar Kuntak http://www.anandabazar.com/stat matio kheye Patrika Chattapadhyay e/the-moushuni-island-has-been- niche bhangon victim-to-the-erosion- (Erosion even not 1.725098?ref=state-new-stry sparing the burial land) BISRCI

2 Ek ishara hai 23.12.17 Navbharat Sudhir Mishra ofhttps://blogs.navbharattimes.i ndiat dubta hua Times imes.com/sudhirmisra/changing- Sundarban climate-is-big-threat-to-the-world/ (Sinking Sundarban is an indicator towards future) behalf 3 At Ground Zero, 24.12.17 The Jayanta Basu https://www.telegraphindia.com/st Ground Giving Telegraph and ChandrimaDraft ates/west-bengal/at-ground-zero- A ravenous sea, a on S. Bhattacharya ground-giving-195761 weathered people. 4 Climate bites off 24.12.17 The Jayanta Basu https://www.telegraphindia.com/i Bengal toe Telegraph and Chandrima ndia/climate-bites-off-bengal-toe-

and S. Bhattacharya 195935

5 Chenai – 31.12.17 Bwadip Barta Sajahan Siraz Local News Paper (No Link) Muriganga nodir for sathe Discussion bongoposagar gile khachhe Mousuni (Along with Chenai & Muriganga river; Bay of Bengal Preparedalso engulfing the Mousuni Island)

6 Graveyard of A 15.01.18 Outlook Dola Mitra https://www.outlookindia.com/ma Land gazine/story/graveyard-of-a-

129

land/299684

7 Rising sea 15.01.18 The Third Joydeep Gupta https://www.thethirdpole.net/201 swamps island Pole 8/01/15/rising-sea-swamps-island- along Bengal along-bengal-coast/ coast

8 Rising sea 15.01.18 India Climate Joydeep Gupta http://indiaclimatedialogue.net/20 swamps island Dialogue 18/01/15/rising-sea-swamps- along Bengal island-along-bengal-coast/ coast

9 Rising sea 15.01.18 Business Joydeep Gupta http://www.businessBISRCI- swamps island Standard standard.com/article/news- along Bengal ofians/rising -sea-swamps-island- coast along-bengal-coast- 118011500574_1.html 10 Sinking 17.01.18 India Climate Soumya http://indiaclimatedialogue.net/20 Sundarbans Dialogue behalfSarkar 18/01/17/sinking-sundarbans- islands islands-underline-climate-crisis/ underline Draft climate crisis on

11 Sinking 17.01.18and Six Degree Soumya http://demo.sixdegreesnews.org/fe Sundarbans News Sarkar ed-items/sinking-sundarbans- islands islands-underline-climate-crisis/ underline for climate crisis Discussion

12 Sinking 22.01.18 Impact News Soumya http://www.impactnews.in/2018/0 Sundarbans Sarkar 2/14/sinking-sundarbans-islands- islands underline-climate-crisis/ Preparedunderline climate crisis

13 Sinking 22.01.18 Economic Soumya https://energy.economictimes.indi Sundarbans: Times atimes.com/news/renewable/sinki

130

Inexplicable lack (Energy Sarkar ng-sundarbans-inexplicable-lack-ofof global concern World) global-concern/62603515

14 ‘Babuder’ fele 27.02.18 Bartaman Rahul Dutta http://bartamanpatrika.com/detail jaoa aborjona saf Patrika News.php?cID=13&nID=98690 kore Sundarban rokhyar lorai grambasider (Villagers are fighting to save Sundarban by cleaning the BISRCI leftover garbage of the urban tourists) of

15 Climate change 20.03.18 Climate By Harjeet http://www.climatechangenews.co victims need Home News Singh, Sven m/2018/03/20/climate-change- Harmeling and money to survive, victims-need-money-survive-not- Julie-Anne not words behalfRichards words/ Draft Audioon / Visual Media

16 Sundarban ke 20.12.17 NDTV Hridayesh https://khabar.ndtv.com/video/show parjaboron ko Joshi /news/campaign-to-save-the- bachane ki and sunderbans-environment-474981 muhim (Initiative to save the environment of for Sundarban) Discussion 17 Sundarban par 10.01.18 NDTV Hridayesh https://khabar.ndtv.com/video/show jolobayu Joshi /news/the-impact-of-climate- paribartan ka change-on-the-sunderbans-476346 asar, tapuoko nigalta samudra Preparedka pani (Effect of climate change on Sundarban, sea water engulfing the islands )

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18 Over 100 Islands 11.01.18 NDTV Hridayesh https://www.ndtv.com/india- In Sundarbans Joshi news/over-100-islands-in- Face Existential sundarbans-face-existential-threat- Threat As Sea as-sea-level-rises-1798943 Level Rises

Post Bangladesh Sundarban trip on February 2018

19 India, BD need to 28.02.18 The Daily Banani Mallick https://www.observerbd.com/deta work together to Observer ils.php?id=124698 save Sundarban: (Bangladesh) Experts

20 Keeping heads 06.03.18 The Third Joydeep Gupta https://www.thethirdpole.net/201BISRCI above rising sea, Pole 8/03/06/24047/ barely of

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27 FEATURE-As 18.03.18 Reuters Manipadma https://www.reuters.com/article/b floods rise in Jena angladesh-crabs- Bangladesh, crab climatechange/feature-as-floods- farming helps families tread rise-in-BISRCIbangladesh-crab-farming - water helps-families-tread-water- ofidUSL8N1QY3N0 28 As floods rise in 18.03.18 Times of https://timesofindia.indiatimes.co Bangladesh, crab India m/world/south-asia/as-floods-rise- farming helps in-bangladesh-crab-farming-helps- families tread water families-tread- behalf water/articleshow/63357403.cms

29 As floods rise in 18.03.18 Relief web ManipadmaDraft https://reliefweb.int/report/bangla Bangladesh, crab on Jena desh/floods-rise-bangladesh-crab- farming helps farming-helps-families-tread-water families tread water and

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34 Macher prachurjo 16.03.18 Bonik Barta, Sahid Sahin http://bonikbarta.net/bangla/news harachhe Bangladesh /2018-03- Sundarban 16/151394/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6% (Sundarban rivers losing its fish BE%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87%E0%A diversity) 6%B0- %E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6BISRCI %B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9A%E0 of%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D %E0%A6%AF- %E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6 %B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9A%E0 %A7%8D%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87- behalf %E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%81%E0%A6 Draft%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0 on %A6%B0%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%A8 /

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ranked six in the world most polluted river in terms of plastic scrap) 38 Deshe ebar 27.04.18 Bartaman Rahul Dutta http://bartamanpatrika.com/detail prothom baksho News.php?cID=19&nID=107090 te kankra chas korbe rajya (West Bengal fisheries department taking an initiative to farming Mud BISRCI Crab in plastic box first time in of India)

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ĝĿőďĘ Đńą¹ ďĂĹńĘ →ą³ ĞĿĂĿőęĂ, Ĺ Х ŀ č →Đ - ³ ĎŃĘ ŀ Ă Ф ¾Ŀă ĺ Ŀŀ Ğ Ę ĺ őţ ŀ ₣ ę Ĺ Ŀ³ őĘ , č ĿĘ →ĞőĘ ĝĿőďĘ ¹ąĘ²ĿĂĿĘ ďĿŜ ·ńőţ ¹‾Ŀę →ąŀĘőţ ÞőĹŀ₣ę˛ →¹ĿĂ− ďőč →ĄĘ ďĿŜ ¾ĿăĿ ŀ¯őţ ďčő¯Ęň ‘Ĺ Ь ĿĂ ’-Ş ńֿ

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ąĿŁŀ¾őţő₣Ă ďĂĹńőĘĘĿ˛ ¹Ŀő₣ž Þ¹ ĄĿŀę Ğŀď →¯ŀ²őţ Þ¹ Đńą¹ ąęŀ₣őęĂ, ‘‘Þž →čĿ Þ²ĿőĂž ŽďĿő¯Ę ąĿŀś ŀ₣ę˛ ĎĿ¼őĂĘ Ďőţ ĝĿőďĘ šĂĕ ŀ ¯ ő¹ Ĺ őĘ ŀ ³ őţ ŀ ₣ ˛ ’’

ăŀĘőąĚŀąő¯ĘĿ ąęő₣Ă, ŀą צּ Ðь Ŀţ őĂĘ →ĞőĘ ½ŇŀČ╩ğ Ľ őś Ę ĵ ő¹ Ŀă ą ĿĽś őą , ą Ŀśőą ĹĿ³őĘĘ Ğę ќ Ę˛ č ĿĘ →ĞőĘž Ńă ÞęĿ¹Ŀ Þął ďĕĿĂőĝĿĎ šĘČĕ˛ Þž ÞęĿ¹Ŀ − šĘČĕ ĂĿ- đ Ŀ¹ őęר - Ė ďĚ ŀą ă Њ ĺ őţ ă ś ő₣ ĹńІĘą őĂĘ ą ¹ę¹ĿčĿ- Ĺĺ ¯ŀǼČąő⅛Ę ąś Þ¹Ŝ šłĚ− Ĺ Ŀď ńŀĮ ¹ ğ őś Ę ď ńő² ŀ ą ă Њ ĺ őţ ă ś őą ą őę Ĺ č ¹ ╩ ¹ Ę ő₣ Ă ă ŀ Ę őą Ě ŀ ą Ώ ĿĂ ŃĘ Ŀ˛ Þ ž ă ŀ Ę ŀ ў ŀ č őč →ďŚĹ ńŀ Ă Ę ď őč Ŀ ŀ ą ă Њ Þ ę Ŀ¹ Ŀ ŀ Ă őţ ¹ Ń Ď Ŀą ő₣ ĵ Ě ĿĹ Ă ?

ў ĿĂ Ńţ ă Α Ŀőţ č ĵ · ĿĂ Ž ¯ Ŀę č ² ĿĂ Ğ ĿĂ ĿĂ , ŽţęĿĘ ăőĘ ĂĿąĿĆ╩ ąĿŁő·Ę ¹ĿĞ פּמּ ¹őĘŀ₣ę˛ ŀ¹אּ šő·╩¹ ĺ−ţĿĘ ăőĘ →Ĺž ¹ĿĞ ąЉ ĺőţ ĐĿţ˛ →Ĺž ąĿŁ·− →Ďő¼¾ńőĘ ĞőęĘ ĝĿőĹ ¾őę ŀ³őţő₣˛ ĵŀč ďĿőĹž Þ¹Şń Ńă Ŝ ˛ ў ĿĂŃţ ą ĿŀĹ І Ŀő¯ Ę Þ ¹ Ŀł őĚ Ę š ŀ Ď őĐĿ³ , Þ¹ ąĿĘ ąĿŁő·Ę ĞĂĕ ר Þ ¹ Şń ¹ őĘ Ğ őę Ę ĝ ĿőĹ Ćńőą ĐĿőΆ Ğŀď ŀ³őţő₣ čĿŁő¯Ę˛ →ĄĘ ąĿŁő·Ę ĂĿőď Ğŀď →Ă−ţĿ ĺőą˛ Þ ĎĿőą ¹č ąĿĘ Ğŀď →¯őąĂ čĿŁĘĿ˛ ĂĿď²ĿĂĿ ¹ ĿЂֿ ďĿĘ ďĿŀę →ďőĂ ŀĂőΆĂ, ą ĿŁő·Ę →Ǽőī ĹďĹĕĿ ŽBISRCI Ĺőę ŞĿ¹ ĿĘ˛ Þž ŀą ă Њ ٫ ă ΑĿőţ č Ĺŀďŀč Ę ĹĎĿăŀč ĝ Ŀď ő¹ ą ĿŁ¾Ŀőč ą ĿŁ· →¯− ţ ĿĘ Ğ Ă ĕ š Ђč ź Ű →¹ ĿŜ Ş Ŀ¹ ĿĘ ą Ę Ŀκ ĵ őţ ĿĞ Ăof ˛ ŀ č ŀ Ă ą őę Ă , ‘‘ŀ ¹ ₣ ń Ş Ŀ¹ Ŀ ŀ ď őę ő₣ ˛ č Ŀ ŀ ¯ őţ ą ĿŁő· Ę ¹ ĿĞ פּ מּ ¹ Ę Ŀ ĺ őą ˛ ’’

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MEASURE ISLAND: A rising sea level threatens Mousuni behalf Draft on

Nothing can stop the rising sea. But those who live on this rapidly shrinking island have to struggle every moment to keep it away. and

Mousuni, a long strip of an island in the southwestern part of the Indian Sunderbans, has its entire length on the west exposedfor to the Bay of Bengal. With the sea level rising, chunks of the island have been falling into the waters, especiallyDiscussion the last two decades. The island, spread over 28 square kilometres, is home to 25,000 people. Many of them are continuously displaced. They do not know when the sea is going to descend on them again. Or what to do at all.

Mairun Bibi lives in Baliara, the southern part of Mousuni. About 200 feet from her home, the sea stretches starkly, only interrupted by fragments of the embankment that survived Aila, the 2009 Preparedcyclone that destroyed the Sunderbans. The sea has been moving in at a greater speed since then. To block the salt water, Mairun Bibi has placed the trunk of a coconut tree across a side of her mud hut. It is as desperate an attempt to battle the sea, as it is futile. "The sea will be my death," she says. Her neighbours have built small earthen banks around their homes. "This is my fourth house in 10 years. Even the land we use to bury our dead has not been spared," says Sakina Bibi.

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The salt water has killed the two main livelihoods of the villagers - farming and fishing. The land is no longer arable and the fish in the ponds have died. Even drinking water is a problem.

Mousuni is Ground Zero of climate change, demonstrating the effects of sea level rise, sea surface warming, increased high intensity storms and erosion.

"Natural calamities have always been a routine in the Sunderbans," says Anurag Danda of World Wildlife Fund - India, who has been visiting the island for two decades. But these events have been significantly exacerbated, he says, by immediate and long-term climate change impacts "in the last decade or so, especially after Aila".

Climate bites off Bengal toe BISRCI of

Jayanta Basu and Chandrima S. Bhattacharya Dec 24, 2017 00:00 IST

Climate change: Mousuni, located on the southernmost tip of Bengal in the Indian Sunderbans, has become the Ground Zero of climate change. Chunks of the island have been disappearing, falling prey to the effects of the sea-level rise, sea-surface behalfwarming, storms and erosion. Picture by Jayanta Basu Draft The Sunderbans: Climate change has foundon a beachhead in Bengal, literally cutting the ground from under the feet of the state.

Large chunks of Mousuni, a strip of an island in the Indian Sunderbans and located on the southernmost tip of Bengal, haveand been falling off, devoured by a sea made ravenous by the invading forces of climate change.

The gnawed-at Mousuni is here and now, not a "assignmention for the future at international conferences". "If the expertsfor come here, they would be able to see how real the damage is in this part of the world," said Harjeet Singh,Discussion the global climate head of Action Aid, who was in Mousuni. At least three Sunderbans islands - Lohachara, Suparibhanga (Bedford) and New Moore - have disappeared in the past five decades. Sagar, the biggest island in the Sunderbans that hosts the Gangasagar Mela, has lost three of its mouzas. The Sunderbans, a group of more than 100 islands on the southern fringe of Bengal and Bangladesh, are in need of urgent international attention, warn global analysts. PreparedThe Indian Sunderbans have lost slightly more than 250sqkm of land - an area larger than Calcutta - between 1970 and 2015, says a recent report by the School of Oceanographic Studies in Jadavpur University. About 36 per cent of this erosion took place in the past 15 years.

"Many other Sunderbans islands are vulnerable," said Sugata Hazra, who teaches oceanography at Jadavpur University.

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In the Indian Sunderbans, the rate of sea-level rise is about 8-10mm a year, nearly three times the global average, Hazra added.

About 1.5 million people in the Indian Sunderbans face a severe threat from climate change, which is doubly unfair as the area's carbon contribution is negligible.

If the Sunderbans do not survive, neither perhaps will a large part of south Bengal, including Calcutta. The Sunderbans act as a buffer protecting this hinterland.

"The Sunderbans are definitely a fit case for demanding compensation at international platforms, citing loss and damage suffered by a people because of climate change," said Singh.

Compensation for "loss and damage" is a key strategy that was drawn up at the CoP, the United Nations climate change conference held in Warsaw in 2013, under pressure from developing and poor countries. BISRCI Unlike the previous "mitigation" or "adaptation" strategies - aimed at arresting future damage from climate change - this mechanism aims to compensate people for damageof already suffered. "I will definitely raise the issue at the next taskforce meeting of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage next March," Singh said. This global body was created after the 2015 Paris agreement to address climate damage.

Singh was recently in the Sunderbans as part of a delegation for the trans-boundary Sunderbans assignment, undertaken by non-profit organisations EnGIO, Third Pole and ORF India with World Bank support. behalf

The delegation visited Mousuni, on the southernmost tip of Bengal,Draft where the damage inflicted by climate change is extreme. Local panchayaton figures show that about 2,200 families have been displaced or affected severely by the rising sea in Mousuni.

"A recent stakeholder assessment study clearly says that the millions invested in development in the Sunderbans will be nullifiedand unless climate change is countered as a priority, which needs a lot of fund support," said Nilanjan Ghosh, an ecological economist attached to ORF.

Bengal's Sunderbans affairs minister, Manturam Pakhira, said: "Climate change has become a major issue in the Sunderbans,for threatening all development processes. We have already engaged specialists to develop a strategy and expect to finalise the climate action road map in the Sunderbans soon, including waysDiscussion to get financial help."

He added: "We are already in discussion with Nabard, which funds climate action, and international funding agencies. British government officials too visited the Sunderbans recently."

PreparedGraveyard Of A Land An insatiable sea licks away the Sunderbans, leaving lakhs of lives at water’s edge DOLA MITRA

NATIONALINTERNATIONALBUSINESSSPORTART & ENTERTAINMENTBOOKS & CULTURESOCIETY

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15 JANUARY 2018

FINAL FIGHT

A Sunderban village presents its last leg to the sea

PHOTOGRAPH BY SANDIPAN CHATTERJEE

INCREASE TEXT SIZE BISRCI Hamidul Rehman is angry. At 24, he has witnessed the sea swallow his home, situated on an island in the Sundarbans, the world’s largest delta, at least six times. Each timeof his family shifted further inward; each time the ocean pursued them relentlessly. “I can’t be mad at nature, can I?” he asks, his voice quivering with helpless rage. “But it makes my blood boil to see the administration’s attitude towards us. Neither state nor Centre has done anything to check the steady, alarming erosion of our land,” he adds. While swathes of the Sundarbans—the western partbehalf of which falls in West Bengal—especially coastal islands on the Bay of Bengal like Ghoramara, Sagar DeepDraft and Mousuni, are partially submerged, the plight of their inhabitants, outon of sight from the mainland and thus at the bottom of priority lists of administrators, have largely gone unnoticed and unheeded. So acute and far advanced is the problem that scientists have lost hope of saving the area. Even Calcutta is at the sea’s mercy. and They are not the only ones in grave danger. According to oceanographers, environmentalists and NGOs who have been tracking the Sundarbans’ gradual disappearance into the sea, the danger is no longer limited to the islands,for but has reached the very doorstep of India’s mainland. Earlier this month, a group of experts convenedDiscussion a meeting to chalk out plans of bringing the issue to the urgent notice of governments—local, regional, national and international.

Environmental scientists say that the gradual depletion of the Sundarbans, which are covered in mangrove forests, will eventually have an adverse impact on the mainland, beginning with southern Bengal, including Calcutta, and gradually affect more parts of the country. According to a report of the Journal of Earth Science and Climatic Change, “Mangrove forests protect the coastal zone against Preparedthe influences of ocean.... Relatively narrow strips of mangroves can substantially reduce the energy of wind-driven waves. Extensive tracts of mangroves can protect adjacent land and human populations from storm surges of water.... A healthy mangrove forest can prevent salt water intrusion, preventing damage of fresh water ecosystems and agricultural areas...and minimise the effect of rising sea levels due to global warming.”

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Located at a distance of 175 kms from Calcutta, if the Sundarbans go down with all its mangrove forests, there is very little to protect the metropolis from the approaching, rapacious sea. The question is why, in spite of the mangroves, are the islands eroding? “The chief cause of erosion in the Sundarbans is climate change and global warming,” explains Joydeep Gupta, South Asia director of the international environmental group The Third Pole. Because of CFC emission and greenhouse effect, temperatures across the world have marked a steady annual rise by one degree Celcius, leaving molten glaciers and rising sea levels in its wake. As seawater seeps inwards, salination causes permanent damage. Salinity has rendered the once fertile Sundarbans uncultivable, making traditional livelihoods like farming and sweet-water fishing impossible. Most alarmingly, it has caused the ground to become brittle which, when buffeted by dangerously high tides, crumbles and disintegrates. “This has played havoc with the lives of the locals, who are poor farmers orBISRCI fisherfolk and given rise to large-scale displacement, with islanders either trying to relocate to drier parts or fleeing altogether,” says environmental activist Jayanta Basu, who has been oftrying to bring the issue to the notice of authorities for the past 15 years. He points out that when Cyclone Aila ripped through the Sundarbans in 2004, killing hundreds and destroying thousands of homes, it demonstrated the magnitude of the problem—that manmade global warming had rendered the Sundarbans too vulnerable to withstand the effects of powerful natural calamities, unlike in the past. “The irony is that the people of the Sundarbans have contributedbehalf absolutely nothing to the carbon footprint responsible for global warming,” Gupta notes. In fact, other cauDraftses that have exacerbated erosion in the Sundarbans have also originated elsewhere.on WWF scientist Anurag Danda explains that the landmass of the Sundarbans has traditionally depended on the silt that is carried to it by the Ganga, the main river feeding the delta. In recent decades, the thinning landmass is starved of this vital nutrient, for by the time the riverand arrives at the delta, its original course is subjected to so many upstream diversions that it just doesn’t carry enough silt. The report cited above is also scathing about the effects of deforestation on the Sundarbans. “There has been an overall andfor continuous decline in mangrove forests caused by conversion to agriculture, aquaculture, tourismDiscussion and urban development,” it says. Reduced mangrove will increase the threat to human safety and shoreline development from coast hazards such as erosion, flooding, storm waves, cyclones and tsunamis, it adds. This was proved glaringly during the 2004 tsunami, when villages which were protected by mangroves were virtually untouched; localities on either side of these, which lacked mangrove cover, were flattened as waves ripped through them. So acute is the problem, so inexorable the damaging circumstances—rise in global temperatures, Preparedunabated diversion of the Ganga upstream etc—scientists have virtually lost hope of a fight to save the Sundarbans. The current focus has shifted from protecting and preserving the land/forest to managing the teeming thousands who face displacement. “The thrust of governments vis-a-vis the Sundarbans should be the absorption of the nearly 50 lakh inhabitants,” says Basu. Indeed, as the Sundarbans, slowly but steadily, looks set to go under, the impending socio-economic turbulence is

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much more exigent, feel environmentalists. Pointing out a possible administrative nightmare, they advocate prompt, crisis-evading decisions. The hapless people of the Sundarbans are still not willing to accept the idea of mass displacement; they cling obstinately to the hope that the administration would miraculously save the land from disintegrating permanently. “All they have to do is put up the barriers and embankments which used be there before the Aila,” says Moirul Bibi, a resident of Mousuni island, whose mud hut is a mere two-minute walk from the last scene of devastation. “I was born and raised in this island. I got married here, had children and I’m a grandmother now. I don’t want to leave this place. But I will do everything to help the administration in recreating the buttress, even if it means digging up clay and buiding the mud mould with my bare hands and carrying heavy stone slabs to be pasted on top of the embankment to rebuff the sea.” Unwilling to accept the inevitable doom, she talks about having heard from a neighbour’s son about how the government spends crores on BISRCIreclamation in Mumbai, where he lives now. “If they can create land on the sea where there is none, why can’t they protect land that is already there?” she asks. “Is it because we are poor and thatof is why our lives have no value?” In the meantime, exasperated by the lack of response from not just governments but funding agencies, environmentalists have stepped up the demand for money. At the Sundarbans conference, Harjeet Singh of Action Aid International, who has been lobbying with governments of rich nations—chief contributors to the world’s carbon footprintbehalf—for fu nds to tackle the devastating impact of climate change, talks about their parsimony in this Draftmatter. “Funds have been abysmally inadequate,” he says. “Whatever little moneyon that does come by is diverted through a complicated process via different governmental departments and banks and eventually gets lost in transition. So we have created the green climate fund as a one-stop solution. Our demand internationally is that beginning from 2020, each yearand $100 billion should be allocated for the purpose of work related to climate change.” Meanwhile, the sorely disappointed Rehman is ready with an appeal, topped with a convincing argument, to environmentalistsfor around the world for the protection of his home. “I am aware of the global fight to save the tiger fromDiscussion extinction,” he says. “Isn’t the Royal Bengal Tiger the world’s most famous tiger? Will they allow them to be engulfed by the sea?” By Dola Mitra in Calcutta

PreparedRising sea swamps island along Bengal coast Around 1.5 million people will be displaced in the Sundarbans, and the process has started

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Standing atop an 18-foot embankment, Badruddin Sarkar pointed to his previous home, engulfed by a rising sea (top). That was in 2009. In December 2017, Abdul Hanan showed the saline wasteland left behind (bottom) as that embankment was breached, and all other attempts to build sea walls were overwhelmed by the Bay of Bengal [images by: Joydeep Gupta] Joydeep Gupta, January 15, 2018

The living drowns and the dead float out from their graves as a rising sea engulfs Baliara village in Mousuni, an island facing the Bay of Bengal. Every third or fourth day, the high tide enters homes and leaves farms a wasteland. The village burial ground has been engulfed by salt water and skeletons keep floating up out of the earth.

At one edge of the Sundarbans – the world’s largest mangrove forest – Mousuni used to have an embankment along Baliara to hold back the rising sea. That collapsed during the 2009 Cyclone Aila. Since then, there have been three attempts to build sea walls, all of which haveBISRCI collapsed against the power of the sea. Scientists say seas around the world are rising due to climate change, but the Bay of Bengal is rising twice as fast as the global average. of I had first visited Baliara in 2009, two months before the cyclone hit. Badruddin Sarkar, retired headmaster of the village school, had then stood on top of the 18-foot embankment and pointed out the homes he used to have – the first was overtaken by a rising sea in 1991 and the second in 2004. All that could be seen of the second was the trunk of a coconut palm – it used to be part of the foundation. Two months after I met him, a storm surge from Cyclone Aila topped the embankment, ruined Sarkar’s paddy fields and freshwater fish farmsbehalf with salt water, killed his livestock, and forced him to migrate to Kolkata, the capital of the Indian stateDraft of West Bengal, over 100 kilometres away. on Now, Abdul Hanan, 61, retired headmaster of the school’s primary section, pointed out the effects of the rising seas. There is no sign of the original embankment, girders from subsequent attempts to build a sea wall lie overwhelmed and abandoned, dead coconut and date palms dot a landscape of saline pools where nothing can andgrow. for Discussion

The futility of trying to hold back a rising sea with concrete walls is seen in the broken slabs lying on

Prepared what has become a saline wasteland [image by: Joydeep Gupta]

At the confluence of the Muriganga – a distributary of the Ganga – with the Bay of Bengal, Mousuni is a bustling island of about 5,000 households. But over 2,000 of them are in Baliara, and they are under a sentence of displacement or death.

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in. Peek inside the large hut, and the first thing you see are piles of soggy old newspapers. That is what the family uses to mop up the water from their furniture, their floor, their walls. They do it every three or four days. BISRCI Jasimuddin Sarkar in front of his farm that now grows nothing, and hisof house that gets flooded with dirty saline water every third or fourth day [image by: Joydeep Gupta]

Climate refugees So how do they survive? Jasimuddin’s answer is the same as that of everybody in Baliara. “My son works in Kerala as a mason. He sends money home. That’s how we survive.” Others talk of their sons, brothers or husbands working as security guards, farm labour, masons, mall cleaners and so on. The diaspora that has moved from Kerala to Westbehalf Asia to work has led to another, internal, diaspora from the Sundarbans to go and work in Kerala. Draft It’s not a situation that anybody likes. “Nobodyon wants to get their daughters married to a boy from Baliara,” Jasimuddin says. “We could get my son married only after searching for months. Ask her,” and he points to a woman in her early twenties standing nearby.

Salma Bibi – married to Jasimuddin’sand son a few months ago – is from a village about 20 kilometres inland. “I completed school. I know I can get a job elsewhere,” she says confidently. “I’ve been telling my husband and everyone else at home we should just go away from here. This is no life – getting everything at home drownedfor in dirty salt water every third or fourth day. Two of the three saris my father bought for my marriage have been ruined. I’m going to tell my husband the next time he comes home for a holiday, and we’reDiscussion going to go away.”

Where will they go? Salma is not clear, while Jasimuddin says he knows nothing except paddy and freshwater fish farming, so what will he do elsewhere for a living? Over 150 families in Baliara have already left permanently. They could not sell their land, because nobody was interested in wasteland. They just left.

Has the government been of any help? Local panchayat member Himangshu Aich said those who Preparedcould prove their farm ownership got a compensation of Rs 10,000 per family after Cyclone Aila. And since then, the efforts of the government engineers to hold back the waves are there for all to see. The situation is the same in other islands in the Sundarbans facing the world’s largest bay.

See Shrinking Sagar island struggles to stay afloat

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See Ganga villages devastated by sea level rise

More refugees than from all other islands

The Sundarbans straddle the Bangladesh-India border. The Indian part has around five million people living in it. Nilanjan Ghosh, an ecological economist who is a consultant for Observer Research Foundation and WWF India, has led a study that shows 1.5 million of these people will have to be permanently relocated outside the Sundarbans, because sea level rise will make it impossible for them to live there or earn a livelihood.

Like Badruddin Sarkar, many residents of Baliara have lost their home two or three times. Every time they have moved further inland. Now they cannot do it any more, because there is no space left. That means the number of people affected and to be affected by sea level riseBISRCI in the Indian Sundarbans alone is higher than that of all small islands around the world put together.

The impending fate of these islands is a major subject of discussion atof the annual talks of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. A strong push by the governments of these island nations forced an aspirational goal in the 2015 Paris climate agreement – to keep average global temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius.

In contrast, the plight of people in the Sundarbans is not even mentioned in international climate talks, not even by the government of India. behalf Use the surging seas tool developed by the think tank ClimateDraft Central to see what can happen to the Sundarbans on It is not as if there has been no attempt to build climate resilience in this area. For well over a decade, WWF India has been distributing special varieties of paddy seeds that are salinity tolerant. It still works further inland, butand in this area, the water and soil salinity levels have now gone well beyond the survivability of this variety. Two lines from T.S. Eliot’s The Wasteland keep coming back, “What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow / Out of this stony rubbish.”

The problem is far morefor fundamental than the solutions attempted so far. Apart from sea level rise due to climate change, the entire Sundarbans is sinking because dams and barrages in the Ganga and its tributaries upstream holdDiscussion back the silt that forms the soil that forms the delta. No policymaker in New Delhi shows any interest in even starting to address that problem.

A possible way out

Is there a solution at all? Go around 2,000 kilometres from the Sundarbans, down India’s east coast Preparedto Pichavaram in Tamil Nadu, and you will see one with potential. Mangroves have been cut down all along the coastlines of South Asia, but there was still a large strand standing at Pichavaram when the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami hit the entire region from Indonesia to East Africa.

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Coastal villages to the north and south of Pichavaram were devastated, killing many. But the 16 villages shielded by the Pichavaram mangroves from the tsunami wave escaped with very little damage. The mangroves tempered the wave.

Now it is a protected forest through which you can take boat rides, an activity much loved by young couples. As the boatman poles through about a foot of water, you can get very close to the mangroves, which you cannot do in the Sundarbans for fear of tigers and crocodiles.

A creek through the Pichavaram mangroves [image by: Joydeep Gupta]

Today, the Pichavaram mangrove forest serves another vital function as climate change hits farmers nearby. Coastal Tamil Nadu is going through another of its frequent and severe droughts right now. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an increase in frequency and severity of droughts is one of the effects of global warming. Monique Barbut, head ofBISRCI the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, pointed out recently that drought now kills more people than all other so- called natural calamities put together. See ‘More people die of drought than all other calamities put together’of

The current drought has forced Rajendran – in his fifties – to once again leave his farm and travel six km to become a boatman at Pichavaram. It helps that he had once taken his school education seriously, so now he can converse with tourists in English as well as Tamil. Every year, he says, he behalf Draft on has been supplementing his farm income by working as a boatman around the Gregorian and Tamil new year holidays, 15 days apart. This year, he expects it will form the major part of his annual income. and There have been some sporadic attempts to plant mangroves in the Bay of Bengal facing islands of the Sundarbans, but neither the authorities nor the residents seem to be aware it may be the only effective wall against afor rising sea. Discussion

Prepared

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Rising sea swamps island along Bengal coast

Joydeep Gupta , 15.01.18

Around 1.5 million people will be displaced in the Sundarbans, and the process has started

BISRCI of Standing atop an 18-foot embankment, Badruddin Sarkar pointed to his previous home, engulfed by a rising sea (top). That was in 2009. In December 2017, Abdul Hanan showed the saline wasteland left behind (bottom) as that embankment was breached, and all other attempts to build sea walls were overwhelmed by the Bay of Bengal (Photos by Joydeep Gupta) The livings drown and the dead float out from their graves as a rising sea engulfs Baliara village in Mousuni, an island facing the Bay of Bengal. Every thirdbehalf or fourth day, the high tide enters homes and leaves farms a wasteland. The village burial ground has beenDraft engulfed by salt water and skeletons keep floating up out of the earth. on

I had first visited Baliara in 2009,Discussion two months before the cyclone hit. Badruddin Sarkar, retired headmaster of the village school, had then stood on top of the 18-foot embankment and pointed out the homes he used to have – the first was overtaken by a rising sea in 1991 and the second in 2004. All that could be seen of the second was the trunk of a coconut palm – it used to be part of the foundation. Two months after I met him, a storm surge from Cyclone Aila topped the embankment, ruined Sarkar’s paddy fields and freshwater fish farms with salt water, killed his livestock, and Preparedforced him to migrate to Kolkata, the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, over 100 kilometres away.

Now, Abdul Hanan, 61, retired headmaster of the school’s primary section, pointed out the effects of the rising seas. There is no sign of the original embankment, girders from subsequent attempts to

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build a sea wall lie overwhelmed and abandoned, dead coconut and date palms dot a landscape of saline pools where nothing can grow.

The futility of trying to hold back a rising sea with concrete walls is seen in the broken slabs lying on what has become a saline wasteland (Photo by Joydeep Gupta) At the confluence of the Muriganga – a distributary of the Ganga – with the Bay of Bengal, Mousuni is a bustling island of about 5,000 households. But over 2,000 of them are in Baliara, and they are under a sentence of displacement or death.

“How do you expect us to live?” asks a visibly angry Jasimuddin Sarkar, pointing to his farm that is under about a foot of dirty brackish water, a small species of amphibious fish the only sign of life in it. “Do you see that embankment between my two farms, with the coconut treeBISRCI on it? It is all dead.” He has tried to protect his home from the rising sea with plastic fencing, but the water keeps getting in. Peek inside the large hut, and the first thing you see are piles of soggyof old newspapers. That is what the family uses to mop up the water from their furniture, their floor, their walls. They do it

behalf Draft every three or four days. on Jasimuddin Sarkar in front of his farm that now grows nothing, and his house that gets flooded with dirty saline water every third or fourth day (Photo by Joydeep Gupta) Climate refugees and

So how do they survive?for Jasimuddin’s answer is the same as that of everybody in Baliara. “My son works in Kerala as a mason. He sends money home. That’s how we survive.” Others talk of their sons, brothers or husbands workingDiscussion as security guards, farm labour, masons, mall cleaners and so on. The diaspora that has moved from Kerala to West Asia to work has led to another, internal, diaspora from the Sundarbans to go and work in Kerala.

It’s not a situation that anybody likes. “Nobody wants to get their daughters married to a boy from Baliara,” Jasimuddin says. “We could get my son married only after searching for months. Ask her,” Preparedand he points to a woman in her early twenties standing nearby.

Salma Bibi – married to Jasimuddin’s son a few months ago – is from a village about 20 kilometres inland. “I completed school. I know I can get a job elsewhere,” she says confidently. “I’ve been telling my husband and everyone else at home we should just go away from here. This is no life – getting

151

everything at home drowned in dirty salt water every third or fourth day. Two of the three saris my father bought for my marriage have been ruined. I’m going to tell my husband the next time he comes home for a holiday, and we’re going to go away.”

Has the government been of any help? Local panchayat member Himangshu Aich said those who could prove their farm ownership got a compensation of Rs 10,000 per family after Cyclone Aila. And since then, the efforts of the government engineers to hold back the wavesBISRCI are there for all to see. The situation is the same in other islands in the Sundarbans facing the world’s largest bay. See: Shrinking Sagar island struggles to stay afloat and Ganga villagesof devastated by sea level rise

More refugees than from all other islands

The Sundarbans straddle the Bangladesh-India border. The Indian part has around five million people living in it. Nilanjan Ghosh, an ecological economistbehalf who is a consultant for Observer Research Foundation and WWF India, has led a study that shows 1.5 million of these people will have to be permanently relocated outside the Sundarbans, becauseDraft sea level rise will make it impossible for them to live there or earn a livelihood.on

Like Badruddin Sarkar, many residents of Baliara have lost their home two or three times. Every time they have moved further inland.and Now they cannot do it any more, because there is no space left. for That means the number of people affected and to be affected by sea level rise in the Indian Sundarbans alone is higher thanDiscussion that of all small islands around the world put together.

The impending fate of these islands is a major subject of discussion at the annual talks of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. A strong push by the governments of these island nations forced an aspirational goal in the 2015 Paris climate agreement – to keep average global Preparedtemperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius. In contrast, the plight of people in the Sundarbans is not even mentioned in international climate talks, not even by the government of India. Use the surging seas tool developed by the think tank Climate Central to see what can happen to the Sundarbans

152

It is not as if there has been no attempt to build climate resilience in this area. For well over a decade, WWF India has been distributing special varieties of paddy seeds that are salinity tolerant. It still works further inland, but in this area, the water and soil salinity levels have now gone well beyond the survivability of this variety. Two lines from T.S. Eliot’s The Wasteland keep coming back, “What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow / Out of this stony rubbish.”

The problem is far more fundamental than the solutions attempted so far. Apart from sea level rise due to climate change, the entire Sundarbans is sinking because dams and barrages in the Ganga and its tributaries upstream hold back the silt that forms the soil that forms the delta. No policymaker in New Delhi shows any interest in even starting to address that problem.

A possible way out BISRCI

Is there a solution at all? Go around 2,000 kilometres from the Sundarbans,of down India’s east coast to Pichavaram in Tamil Nadu, and you will see one with potential.

Mangroves have been cut down all along the coastlines of South Asia, but there was still a large strand standing at Pichavaram when the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami hit the entire region from Indonesia to East Africa. behalf Draft Coastal villages to the north and south of Pichavaramon were devastated, killing many. But the 16 villages shielded by the Pichavaram mangroves from the tsunami wave escaped with very little damage. The mangroves tempered the wave. and Now it is a protected forest through which you can take boat rides, an activity much loved by young couples. As the boatmanfor poles through about a foot of water, you can get very close to the Discussion

mangroves, which you cannot do in the Sundarbans for fear of tigers and crocodiles.

PreparedA creek through the Pichavaram mangroves (Photo by Joydeep Gupta) Today, the Pichavaram mangrove forest serves another vital function as climate change hits farmers nearby. Coastal Tamil Nadu is going through another of its frequent and severe droughts right now. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an increase in frequency and severity of droughts is one of the effects of global warming. Monique Barbut, head of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, pointed out recently that drought now kills more people than all other so-

153

called natural calamities put together. See: ‘More people die of drought than all other calamities put together’

There have been some sporadic attempts to plant mangroves in the Bay of Bengal facing islands of the Sundarbans, but neither the authorities nor the residents seem to be awareBISRCI it may be the only effective wall against a rising sea. of

behalf Sinking Sundarbans islands underline climate crisisDraft Soumya Sarkar , 17.01.18 on Although millions living in Sundarbans islands are as much at risk from rising seas as those in the Pacific and for Ocean such as Tuvalu, Kiribati andDiscussion Fiji, there isn’t a fraction of global concern for them

Coastal erosion, high soil salinity and increasingly violent cyclones have forced the young out of their homes in the Sundarbans, leaving behind only the old people, children and women (Photo by Soumya Sarkar)

Kalyani Mandal has gone way past hope. Living in Dhoblat Shibpur, a coastal village on Sagar Island Preparedin the Sundarbans estuary, her house has been washed away by the sea thrice in 10 years. “How many times can you make a fresh start?” she asks despairingly.

Sagar, a large island of 160,000 residents at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal, perhaps depicts how people are fighting a losing battle against an increasingly hostile sea brought

154

on by global warming. It shows the worst effects of climate change — coastal erosion, rising sea levels, unpredictable tidal surges, land salinity and more violent cyclonic storms.

The story of Sagar is repeated across the Sundarbans archipelago of 102 islands, out of which 54 are inhabited. Some of these islands — Bedford, Lohachara, Kabasgadi and Suparibhanga — have already sunk into the sea. Other like Ghoramara and Mousuni, which are thickly populated, are rapidly losing land; and it’s just a matter of time when they too will be lost.

In Mousuni Island, only women, children and the old are to found in the hamlets facing the sea. In Baliara village, for instance, high tides rush into farmland and homestead every few days, leaving the soil saline and unfit for either cultivation or shallow, freshwater fisheries. “Our sons have no option but to migrate out for work,” Abdul Majid, 56, told indiaclimatedialogue.net. “But we have nowhere else to go.” See: Rising sea swamps island along Bengal coast BISRCI

Global phenomenon behalf Halfway across the world, the same human tragedy is repeated in the islands of Tuvalu, Kiribati and Fiji. Kiribati, an island nation in the Pacific, is home to just aboutDraft 110,000 people living on some 30 atolls and reef islands. It straddles the equator,on where the sea level rise is double the global average. “The home of our people and our culture is in jeopardy. My country is sinking into the sea,” Anote and Tong, former presidentfor of Kiribati, said at the Bonn climate summit in November. Discussion

Abdul Majid of Baliara village on Mousuni Island in the Sundarbans points to the place where his house used to be but is now below the high tide line (Photo by Soumya Sarkar) Tong in 2014 finalised the purchase of 20 sq. km on Vanua Levu, one of the Fiji islands, about 2,000 km away. “We would hope not to put everyone on (this) one piece of land, but if it became Preparedabsolutely necessary, yes, we could do it,” he had said at that time. The plight of low-lying islands in the face of climate change has captured global attention. The island nations of the Pacific Ocean in particular have been in the spotlight. The annual global climate summit in November 2017 was held under the presidency of Fiji, underlining the importance of

155

urgent action to contain global warming to within 2 degrees Celsius compared with pre- industrialised times under the Paris Agreement.

The Pacific island nations, who contribute nothing to climate change, are the ones who suffer most from its impacts. “In another generation or two, my people will have no homeland,” Tafue Lusama, general secretary of Tuvalu Christian Church and spokesman for his nation, said in Bonn. Tuvalu, a tiny nation of six coral atolls, three reef islands, and 10,000 people, has been vigorously demanding climate justice as an active member of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).

Sundarbans ignored BISRCI Even as the international community rightly turns its gaze towards the Pacific islands since they are indeed sinking rapidly, the imminent danger of islands in the Sundarbansof where millions more live have received scant attention. “There has been around 250 sq. km land loss from southern sea- facing islands over the last 45 years,” Sugata Hazra, Director of the School of Oceanographic Studies in Jadavpur University in Kolkata, had told indiaclimatedialogue.net in an earlier interview. See: Shrinking Sagar Island struggles behalfto stay afloat Millions are affected and displaced due to sudden onset of climate change impacts such as violent cyclonic storms and this is particularly true for the SundarbansDraft region that straddles Bangladesh and India, according to Aminul Haque of theon Coastal Association for Social Transformation Trust (COAST) in Bangladesh. “Global co-operation is absolutely necessary if we are to address the issue and for Discussion of climate refugees,” Haque told indiaclimatedialogue.net.

About a third of the land in Dhoblat Shibpur village on Sagar Island has sunk under the sea in less than 20 years (Photo by Soumya Sarkar) PreparedIt is inevitable that a large number of people will be displaced from the islands of Sundarbans, particularly in India because they are thickly populated, says ecological economist Nilanjan Ghosh, senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and consultant to WWF India. According to a study led by him, some 1.5 million people have to be permanently relocated outside the Sundarbans due to the fast rise in sea levels. “A conflict-free organic movement of the population is

156

a challenge,” Ghosh told indiaclimatedialogue.net. “But given the inevitability of sea level rise, we have no option but to strategize for a planned retreat and ecosystem regeneration.”

However, it would be futile for India to raise the issue globally unless the government takes some action on the ground to help people to cope with the changes brought on by global warming, according to Anurag Danda, Programme Lead of Climate Change AdaptationBISRCI at WWF India. “We are talking about loss and damage on a massive scale and the business-as-usual model of development funding is no longer sufficient,” he told indiaclimatedialogue.net. of

Although experts are unanimous that action must be taken, both the federal and state governments seem to be indifferent to the impending crisis. For Kalyani Mandal of Dhoblat Shibpur, Abdul Majid of Baliara and countless others living on the islands of Sundarbans, time has already run out. behalf Sinking Sundarbans Islands UnderlineDraft Climate Crisis Impactnews Exclusive February 14, 2018 Environmenton , Impact and

Coastal erosion, high soil salinity and increasingly violent cyclones have forced the young out of their homes in the Sundarbans,for living behind only the old people, children and women [image by: Soumya Sarkar]By Soumya Sarkar Kalyani Mandal has gone way pastDiscussion hope. Living in Dhoblat Shibpur, a coastal village on Sagar Island in the Sundarbans estuary, her house has been washed away by the sea thrice in 10 years. “How many times can you make a fresh start?” she asks despairingly.

Sagar, a large island of 160,000 residents at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal, perhaps depicts how people are fighting a losing battle against an increasingly hostile sea brought on by global warming. It shows the worst effects of climate change — coastal erosion, rising sea Preparedlevels, unpredictable tidal surges, land salinity and more violent cyclonic storms.

157

Abdul Majid of Baliara village on Mousuni Island in the Sundarbans points to the place where his house used to be but is now below the high tide line [image by: Soumya Sarkar]In Mousuni Island, only women, children and the old are to found in the hamlets facing the sea. In Baliara village, for instance, high tides rush into farmland and homestead every few days, leaving the soil saline and unfit for either cultivation or shallow, freshwater fisheries. “Our sons have no option but to migrate out for work,” Abdul Majid, 56, told indiaclimatedialogue.net. “But we have nowhere else to go.”

Global phenomenon Halfway across the world, the same human tragedy is repeated in the islands of Tuvalu, Kiribati and Fiji. Kiribati, an island nation in the Pacific, is home to just about 110,000 peopleBISRCI living on some 30 atolls and reef islands. It straddles the equator, where the sea level rise is double the global average. “The home of our people and our culture is in jeopardy. My country is sinking into the sea,” Anote Tong, former president of Kiribati, said at the Bonn climate summit inof November.

Tong in 2014 finalised the purchase of 20 sq. km on Vanua Levu, one of the Fiji islands, about 2,000 km away. “We would hope not to put everyone on (this) one piece of land, but if it became absolutely necessary, yes, we could do it,” he had said at that time.

The plight of low-lying islands in the face of climatebehalf change has captured global attention. The island nations of the Pacific Ocean in particular have been in the spotlight.Draft The annual global climate summit in November 2017 was held under the presidency of Fiji, underlining the importance of urgent action to contain global warming to onwithin 2 degrees Celsius compared with pre- industrialised times under the Paris Agreement. The Pacific island nations, who contributeand nothing to climate change, are the ones who suffer most from its impacts. “In another generation or two, my people will have no homeland,” Tafue Lusama, general secretary of Tuvalu Christian Church and spokesman for his nation, said in Bonn. Tuvalu, a tiny nation of six coral foratolls, three reef islands, and 10,000 people, has been vigorously demanding climate justice as an active memberDiscussion of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). Sundarbans ignored Even as the international community rightly turns its gaze towards the Pacific islands since they are indeed sinking rapidly, the imminent danger of islands in the Sundarbans where millions more live have received scant attention. “There has been around 250 sq. km land loss from southern sea- facing islands over the last 45 years,” Sugata Hazra, Director of the School of Oceanographic Studies in Jadavpur University in Kolkata, had said in an in interview to indiaclimatedialogue.net.

PreparedMillions are affected and displaced due to sudden onset of climate change impacts such as violent cyclonic storms and this is particularly true for the Sundarbans region that straddles Bangladesh and India, according to Aminul Haque of the Coastal Association for Social Transformation Trust (COAST) in Bangladesh. “Global co-operation is absolutely necessary if we are to address the issue of climate refugees,” Haque told thethirdpole.net.

158

It is inevitable that a large number of people will be displaced from the islands of Sundarbans, particularly in India because they are thickly populated, says ecological economist Nilanjan Ghosh, senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and consultant to WWF India. According to a study led by him, some 1.5 million people have to be permanently relocated outside the Sundarbans due to the fast rise in sea levels. “A conflict-free organic movement of the population is a challenge,” Ghosh told thethirdpole.net. “But given the inevitability of sea level rise, we have no option but to strategize for a planned retreat and ecosystem regeneration.”

India needs proactive steps to address the crisis at Sundarbans and also bring up it at international platforms, according to Harjeet Singh, global lead on climate change for ActionAid International. “The people who are displaced or are forced to migrate due to climate change must be provided legal protection through the United Nations Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage,” he said. “Developing nations such as India and Bangladesh need support so that large- scale migration does not lead to conflict over scarce resources.” BISRCI However, it would be futile for India to raise the issue globally unless the government takes some action on the ground to help people to cope with the changes broughtof on by global warming, according to Anurag Danda, Programme Lead of Climate Change Adaptation at WWF India. “We are talking about loss and damage on a massive scale and the business-as-usual model of development funding is no longer sufficient,” he told thethirdpole.net.

Although experts are unanimous that action must be taken, both the federal and state governments seem to be indifferent to the impending crisis. For Kalyanibehalf Mandal of Dhoblat Shibpur, Abdul Majid of Baliara and countless others living on the islands of Sundarbans,Draft time has already run out. on

and

for Sinking Sundarbans:Discussion Inexplicable lack of global concern Sagar Island (Sundarbans) Kalyani Mandal has gone way past hope. Living in Dhoblat Shibpur, a coastal village on this island in the Sundarbans estuary, her house has been washed away by the sea thrice in 10 years. "How many times can you make a fresh start?" she asks despairingly.IANS | January 22, 2018, 15:21 IST Prepared NewsletterA A

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Sagar Island (Sundarbans): Kalyani Mandal has gone way past hope. Living in Dhoblat Shibpur, a coastal village on this island in the Sundarbans estuary, her house has been washed away by the sea thrice in 10 years. "How many times can you make a fresh start?" she asks despairingly.

Sagar, a large island of 160,000 residents at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal, perhaps depicts how people are fighting a losing battle against an increasingly hostile sea brought on by global warming. It shows the worst effects of climate change -- coastal erosion, rising sea levels, unpredictable tidal surges, land salinity and more violent cyclonic storms.

The story of Sagar is repeated across the Sundarbans archipelago of 102 islands, out of which 54 are inhabited. Some of these islands -- Bedford, Lohachara, Kabasgadi and Suparibhanga -- have already sunk into the sea. Others like Ghoramara and Mousuni, which are thickly populated, are rapidly losing land; and it's just a matter of time before they too are lost.

Halfway across the world, the same human tragedy is repeated in the islandsBISRCI of Tuvalu, Kiribati and Fiji. Kiribati, an island nation in the Pacific, is home to just about 110,000 people living on some 30 atolls and reef islands. It straddles the equator, where the sea level rise is double the global average. "The home of our people and our culture is in jeopardy. My country isof sinking into the sea," Anote Tong, former president of Kiribati, said at the Bonn climate summit in November.

Tong in 2014 finalised the purchase of 20 sq. km on Vanua Levu, one of the Fiji islands, about 2,000 km away. "We would hope not to put everyone on (this) one piece of land, but if it became absolutely necessary, yes, we could do it," he had said at that time. behalf The plight of low-lying islands in the face of climate change has captured global attention. The annual global climate summit in November 2017 was held underDraft the presidency of Fiji, underlining the importance of urgent action to contain onglobal warming to within 2 degrees Celsius compared with pre-industrialised times under the Paris Agreement.

The Pacific island nations, who contribute nothing to climate change, are the ones who suffer most from its impacts. "In another genanderation or two, my people will have no homeland," Tafue Lusama, general secretary of Tuvalu Christian Church and spokesman for his nation, said in Bonn. Tuvalu, a tiny nation of six coral atolls, three reef islands, and 10,000 people, has been vigorously demanding climate justice as an activefor member of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).

Even as the international communityDiscussion rightly turns its gaze towards the Pacific islands since they are indeed sinking rapidly, the imminent danger to islands in the Sundarbans where millions more live has received scant attention. "There has been around 250 sq km land loss from southern sea-facing islands over the last 45 years," Sugata Hazra, Director of the School of Oceanographic Studies in Jadavpur University in Kolkata, had said in an earlier interview.

Millions are affected and displaced due to sudden onset of climate change impacts such as violent cyclonic storms and this is particularly true for the Sundarbans region that straddles Bangladesh Preparedand India, according to Aminul Haque of the Coastal Association for Social Transformation Trust (COAST) in Bangladesh. "Global cooperation is absolutely necessary if we are to address the issue of climate refugees," Haque told thethirdpole.net.

It is inevitable that a large number of people will be displaced from the islands of Sundarbans, particularly in India because they are thickly populated, says ecological economist Nilanjan Ghosh,

160

senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation(ORF) and consultant to WWF India. According to a study led by him, some 1.5 million people have to be permanently relocated outside the Sundarbans due to the fast rise in sea levels. "A conflict-free organic movement of the population is a challenge," Ghosh told thethirdpole.net. "But given the inevitability of sea level rise, we have no option but to strategize for a planned retreat and ecosystem regeneration."

However, it would be futile for India to raise the issue globally unless the government takes some action on the ground to help people to cope, according to Anurag Danda, ProgrammeBISRCI Lead of Climate Change Adaptation at WWF India. "We are talking about loss and damage on a massive scale and the business-as-usual model of development funding is no longer sufficient," he told thethirdpole.net. of

Although experts are unanimous that action must be taken, both the federal and state governments seem to be indifferent to the impending crisis.

(In arrangement with indiaclimatedialogue.net, withbehalf whom Soumya Sarkar is Managing Editor. Views expressed are those of the website. Feedback at [email protected])Draft on ‘ąĿąńő¯Ę’ →Ąőę ĐĿ−ţĿ ŽąĞ╩ĂĿ ĹĿĄ ¹őĘ ĹńІĘąĂ ĘǼĿĘ ę ś Ŀž ĝĿďą ĿĹŃő¯Ę Ńă ( ĹńІĘąĂ):and ĚŃőčĘ ŀďőş¹śĿ →ĘĿ¯ →ďő² ęőΑ Ğ⅛ę ĹĿĄĿŀĘĘ ďő·ĕ ²ĿĂĿŀăĂĿ˛ ŽĘר Ę Ŀً ę ¯ έ , ąĿŀę č ĿĘăĘž →Ĺž ÐŀΆщ, Þ ŁőŞ Ŀ đ Ŀőď ╩Ŀ¹ őę Ę đ Ŀę Ŀ, ЖĿŀ ј ő¹ Ę ẃ ĿĹ , →¹ Ŀе ŀ Ĩ ‾ őĹ Ę →ą Ŀč ę Ĺ ĺ Đ Ŀą č Ńţ Ž ą Ğ╩Ă Ŀ ,ŀĂŀą╩¾ĿőĘ →ĄęĿ ĺőΆ Ă¯ŃĘ Ğ őę ˛ Ě ً őĘ ‘ą Ŀ ą ńő ¯ Ę ’ Ð� ŀĚŀǼč →Ĺž Ĺłѕ ňŀč ę ΌĿ ă Ŀőą Þ² ĿőĂ ÞőĹ ĹńĚĿЂ ·őę Ŀ Þ ² Ă Ĺ ńІ Ę ą Ă ą ĿŁ¾Ŀőč ¹ ĿŁő ׃ Ě‾Ę ąĿ ĹńĚĿЂ ďΤęő¯Ęfor →¯²őę˛ čđĿ¹ŀđč ĝĿďĕ ‘ą Ă ą ĿĹ Ń’ Þ ž ď ĿĂ ńě ¹ĿŁ· →Ęő² ¹ĿĞ ¹őĘ ĐĿőΆĂ˛ ăĐ╩Ş¹ő¯ĘDiscussion →Ąőę ĐĿ−ţĿ →ĂĿłĘĿ ăŀĘчĿĘ ¹őĘ Þ¹ŀ¯ő¹ čĿŁĘĿ →ĐďĂ Ă¯ Ń- ˛ − Ę ǼĿ ¹ Ę ő₣ Ă ŀ ĂőĞ ő¯ Ę ע Ğ⅛őęĘ ă ŀĘőąőĚĘ ĎĿĘĹĿďĕ ĘǼĿ ¹ Ęő₣Ă, →č ď Ăž š ŀ ќ ĚŃőčĘ →Ěőě ĹńІĘą őĂĘ ŀą ŀĎЊ Ă¯Ńőč đĿőď╩Ŀ¹ ę - ЖĿŀ ј ő¹ Ę ŀ ą ŀ Ď Њ Ĺ Ŀď ĝ Ń →ĎőĹ đ Ŀ¹ őč →¯² Ŀ Đ Ŀţ ˛ →Ĺž , Ńőă Ę Þ ¹ ą Ŀŀ Ĺ І Ŀő¯ Ę ¹ đ Ŀţר Ĺďќ ĞΔĿę ŀĂőĞĘĿž ăŀĘчĿĘ ¹ĘĿĘ ŀĹμĿЂ ŀĂőţő₣Ă ĝĿďąĿĹŃĘĿ˛ ąĿŀę →ĞęĿ ĵĚĿĹĂ (ąĂ¯ВĘ−) →đő¹ Ă¯Ń ăŀĘчĿĘ ĘĿ²ĿĘ ŀąěőţ ĵ¾Τ ¹śĿ¹ŀś ¹ĘĿ ĺőţő₣˛ →¹ĿĂ− →ĂŚ¹Ŀ, ęΑ →đő¹ Ă¯Ńőč ĞΔĿę →ĄęĿ ĺőΆ →¯²őęž →ďĿŞĿ ŞĿ¹Ŀ ĞŀĘďĿĂĿ ¹ĘĿ ĺőΆ˛ ž¯ĿĂŃł šőĂő¹ Ĺő⅛ PreparedĆ Ŀј ŀ ą Ă Ę Ŀ² ő₣ ˛ ă ĿĚ Ŀă Ŀŀ Ě ³ Ŀž Ć Ę Ŀ− →ą Ŀğ ĿőΆ Ă ă ŀ Ę őą Ě ă ŀ Ę Ά Њ Ę Ŀ² őč ˛ čĿ Ĺőά− →ĂĿłĘĿ →Ąęő₣Ă →¹Ð →¹Ð˛ →Ĺž Ĺďќ ĞΔĿę ŀĂőĞĘĿž ăŀĘчĿĘ ¹Ęő₣Ă ĝĿďąĿĹŃĘĿ˛ ąĿŀę ŃőăĘ Ĺś ¹ ² Ŀŀę Ę ą ĿŀĹІ Ŀ Ě‾ Ę ďΤőęĘ ¹ đĿţ , č Ŀ ŁĘ Ŀ ¯’- ń ŀčĂĞĂ ĵŀčŀ¯Ă Ĺ¹Ŀőę Ă¯ŃĘ ŀąŀĎЊ šłĚ →đő¹ר Þž ĞΔĿę Ĺłĝĺ ¹őĘĂ˛ ¯ń’-ŀč Ăŀ¯ Ă Þ ĎĿőą Ĺł ĝ ĺ ¹ Ę Ŀ Ğ Δ Ŀę Þ ¹ Ğ Ŀţ ³ Ŀţ Ğ őś Ŀ ¹ őĘ ă ńŀ ś őţ →Ąę Ŀ

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ĺőΆ˛ ąĂ ¯ВőĘĘ Þ¹ ¹č╩Ŀ ĞĿĂĿĂ, Þž ¹ĿőĞĘ ĞĂĕ →¹ĿĂ− Ĺďţ ąĂ ¯ВĘ, →¹ĿĂ− Ĺďţ →¹ЅŃţ ĵ¹őк Ά ĿőĹ ą Ń Ĺ ł ў Ŀ Ž ŀ đ ╩¹ Ĺ Ŀĺ ĿĐ ĕ ¹ őĘ đ Ŀő¹ ˛ Ž őĘ ¹ ą Ŀŀ Ĺ І Ŀ ـ→ Ğę Ŀ ĵ Ě ĿĹ Ă , Ž ą ĿĘ →¹ ĿĂ − Ĺ ď ţ ў ĿĂ Ńţ ŀ ¹ ₣ ń→ ĹńĚĿЂ ďΤőęĘ ¹ đĿţ , ă Đ╩Ş¹ ő¯ Ę →Ąőę ĐĿ− ţ Ŀ đ Ŀőď ╩Ŀ¹ ę - ЖĿŀј ő¹ Ę ĞĂĕ ĹńІĘą őĂĘ ă ŀĘőąĚ³ č ĎĿĘĹĿďĕ ĵ¹ĿĚ ¹őĘő₣ Þ¹Ŀŀ·¹ąĿĘ˛ Þž šąўĿţ ŽďĿő¯Ęž Ðő¯ĕĿ³Ń ³רłĹ ĺőΆ˛ ăŀĘőąĚ Ž¯Ŀęč− Þ ŀĂőţ Ðőױ ĺ − ţ ĿĘ ĵ őţ ĿĞ Ă ˛ č Ŀž מּ Ŝ - →ĘĿĞ ³ ĿőĘ Ę Ą ĿŁő¹ ž ĵ ŀ č ŀ ¯ Ă Ă ¯ Ń- ă ŀĘőąĚ ă ŀĘчĿĘ ¹ őĘĂ č ĿŁĘĿ˛ Ž őĘ ¹ ĝĿďąĿĹŃ Ĺńķč ďΤőęĘ ¹đĿţ, Žő³ ďĿőğďő·ĕ Ğ⅛őę ŀ³őţ ąĂĕĵĿČŃ ŀĚ¹ĿĘ ¹ĘčĿď˛ Þőč ĵĿőČĘ ΆĿőĹąŃ ĹłўĿĘ ĹĺőĐĿŀ³čĿţـ→ ğńŁŀ¹ đĿő¹˛ čĿž ąĂ ¯ВőĘĘ ăĘĿďőĚ╩ →Ĺž ¹ĿĞ →₣őś ŀ¯őţŀ₣˛ Þ²Ă Þ¹ŞĿ Ŀўĕő¹ őЅĘ ŀĂĘĿăέ Ŀ¹ ďֻ ŀĺ őĹőą ¹ ĿĞ ¹ ŀĘ˛ ĹłĹĿĘ ـ ĹĿĘĿŀ¯Ă ĹńІĘą Ă ă ŀĘΆЊ ĘĿ²ĿĘ ¹ ĿĞ ¹ ŀĘ˛ ĘĿőč ¾őę ĐĿőΆ˛ ď♠ĹĕĞŃąŃ ĹńĚĿЂąĿąń ąőęĂ, ĹńІĘąőĂ ăŀĘőąĚ Ăщ ĺ−ţĿĘ Ąőę ďĿ₣− šőĂ¹ ¹őďő₣˛ čĿž ăŀĘőąĚ, ďĿ₣ ąĿŁ¾Ŀőč čĿŁĘĿ ĹŀЬŀęčĎĿőą ¹ĿĞ ¹Ęő₣Ă˛ čőą ĹńІĘąőĂĘ Ĺą╩ī Þž Ĺő¾čĂčĿ ĵőţĿĞĂ˛ ąĂ В Ę − ĝ Ŀď ą ĿĹ Ńő¯Ę ď ő· ĕ Þ ŀ ą ěőţ ĵ ¾ĿĘ ¹ Ęő₣Ă˛ ўĿĂŃţ ăŀĘőąĚ¹ ďֻ š ŀĂęBISRCI ŀďŀњ ąőęĂ, ĹńІĘą őĂĘ ¯ Ńăő¹ ‘ď őĆ ę ' ¹ őĘ ĵ ¾ĿĘ ¾Ŀę Ŀőč ă ĿőĘ ĵ Ě ĿĹ Ă ˛ Ž Ę Þ ¹ Ş ńר ďĿĂńőěĘ ďő·ĕ ăŀĘőąĚ Ĺő¾čĂčĿ ąĿśĿőč ąĿŀę ĂĞĘ¯ĿŀĘ Ŧ ¹ ĘĿ²őęž ĹńІĘą Ă š őĂ¹ ă ŀĘчĿĘ- ăŀĘΆЊ ĺőţ Ðşőą˛of ŽĘ− →ąŀĚ ¹őĘ →¯ŀĚ- ŀą ő¯ŀĚ ă Đ ╩Ş¹ Ş ĿĂ Ŀ Đ Ŀőą ˛

27th February, 2018 behalf Draft on Climate change victims need money to survive, not words Published on 20/03/2018, 10:35amand There is an opportunityfor in May to help people hit hardest by climate change; governments must take it Discussion

Sakina Bibi has lost three homes in 8 years to coastal erosion (Pic: EnGIO)

PreparedBy Harjeet Singh, Sven Harmeling and Julie-Anne Richards

Sakina Bibi has lost three mud houses to the sea in less than 8 years, at Mousuni island in the Indian Sundarbans.

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The 65-year-old is not alone. Since Cyclone Aila hit the region in the year 2009, over 2,000 families have been displaced due to unpredictable coastal flooding destroying their homes and livelihoods.

As climate change causes sea level rise, more than 13 million people living in the low-lying Sundarbans – a Unesco World Heritage Site spread across Bangladesh and India – face an uncertain future.

In May, there will be an opportunity to help people like Sakina Bibi: the Suva expert dialogue on “loss and damage”, to take place during interim UN climate talks in Bonn.

Governments must make sure this is not just a talking shop and leads to new finance for those hit hardest by climate change.

A pre-meeting last week showed promise, but also signs of resistance from rich countries to meaningful action. So what would be a positive outcome? BISRCI

New money of

First and foremost, the dialogue should mobilise money. Rich countries must engage constructively with what finance and support vulnerable countries need, who will provide it and how it will be channeled. To date, there has been an emphasis on providing insurancebehalf against climate risks, but the expectation is that vulnerable populations pay the premiums. This is very unfair, as those people did not cause climate change. Also, insurance does not cover Draft“slow onset events” like sea level rise and glacier melt. on

We want to see polluters pay for the damage they have caused. One way would be to equitably implement a “climate damages tax” on fossil fuel extraction, which could raise billions of dollars a year. and

The provisional concept does not guarantee to put such innovative financial mechanisms at the heart of the expert dialogue,for but they will at least be on the agenda. Science focus Discussion

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is due to release a report later this year on 1.5C global warming, the toughest target in the Paris Agreement. It will detail what would be required to meet the target and the consequences of exceeding it.

This is an ideal opportunity to build up the evidence base around loss and damage. Sadly, some rich Preparedcountry representatives on the executive committee have blocked meaningful engagement with the IPCC, despite the science panel’s willingness to cooperate.

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Julie-Anne Richards@jar_climate

At the #WIM #ExCom7 meeting. For the 2nd time reps from US, Australia, UK, Germany all trying to shut down discussions between the #IPCC and this @UNFCCC body tasked with dealing with #lossanddamage from #climatechange. Why? What are they so afraid of? 4:40 PM - Mar 14, 2018

Migration

At the Paris climate summit in 2015, governments commissioned a task force to “avert, minimise and address” climate-induced displacement, which according to the InternalBISRCI Displacement Monitoring Centre already affects an average of 21.5 million people eachof year. Made up of specialists from climate negotiations and agencies like the International Organisation for Migration and UN Refugee Agency, the task force is holding a stakeholder consultation mid-May to develop policy recommendations. The process will complement the UN Global Compact on Migration, which concludes this year. Policymakers must rise above politics and self-interestbehalf to protect the life and dignity of people forced to move by climate changes beyond their control. Draft Sakina Bibi and millions like her depend onon it.

and India, BD needfor to work together to save Sundarban: Experts Published : Wednesday, 28 February,Discussion 2018 at 12:00 AM Count : 219 Banani Mallick

Environment experts and academics from India and Bangladesh pitched for a joint effort to save the Sundarban, which spreads across parts of both the countries and is under acute threat of climate change. They noted that both Bangladesh and India have to work together to save the Sundarban and its Preparedpeople from the clutches of possible climatic disasters. They made this comment at a three-day Media Strategy Programme from February 23 to 26 , titled, " Climate Change Impact on Sundarban. An Interface" organised by the Environment Governed Integrated Organisation ( EnGIO), a non-government organisation in association with The Third Pole and ORF- India under a World Bank supported programme. The programme was participated by a group of Indian and Bangladeshi journalists to exchange their

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views to conserve the Sundarban. They also expressed the need for the protection of the 30,000 sqkm area of the Sundarban, roughly two-thirds of which are in Bangladesh and the remaining in India. The Sundarban is the only global mangrove habitat for tigers whose conservation is crucial for both India and Bangladesh. At present, the tans-boundary initiative has been on for the last few years to conserve the Sundarban particularly from the impacts of climate change. As a part of that initiative implementation of a media strategy is on to highlight the critical agendas pertaining to the trans-boundary Sundarban, particularly the climate change triggered impact on the region. Experts from both countries noted that joint working group like an agreement of 2011 on the Sundarban already exits, so both the countries should start the work jointly without any delay. "Both of the Sundarban's environmental concerns do not have a boundary and we must rise to the occasion," Eminent journalist Jayanto Basu, from the Telegraph Newspaper, based in Kolkata said this while talking to the Daily Observer. BISRCI Referring to the trans-boundary efforts undertaken to save the Mekong and Rhine rivers, he also noted that India and Bangladesh could likewise take a joint initiative. When asked what significant steps could play an important role, heof said many efforts are needed from different stakeholders from both the countries. "Academics, representatives of civil society, experts, media personalities and local people's active cooperation and support are needed to preserve the Sundarban," he added. Stressing on political will, he said the involvement of political leaders from India and Bangladesh is important because they will finally help in taking steps for conserving the Sundarban. "The most important aspect is exchanging of informationbehalf between both the countries. Like the frequency of storms, the extent of salinity, the adverse impact of climate change and discovery of local adaptation, everything surrounding the Sundarban shouldDraft be shared between experts of both the countries," he said. on Once sharing the information is completed then the next steps should be further discussion. The Sundarban is a vast forest in the coastal region of the Bay of Bengal and considered one of the natural wonders of the world. It was recognised in 1997 asand a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bangladesh, which is being threatened by the adverse impact of climate change. The plan has been prepared by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA)for and Bangladesh-based Policy Research Institute (PRI). All three are members of a trans-boundary consortium, Bangladesh India Sundarban Region Cooperation initiative (BI-RCI), which also Discussionhas four other organisations from India and Bangladesh and is supported by the World Bank. The Media Strategy programme has taken place in Bangladesh at the time when Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had recently urged the two countries to use the Sundarban's success as a benchmark to resolve other outstanding issues. She also noted that the Sundarban is not only a heritage for Bangladesh, it is also important for the country's existence. Some of the experts noted that understating of the existing challenges of the Sundarban's eco Preparedsystem, biodiversity, suffering of the local people and other issues should be figured out and also conduct various researches for possible remedies. Harjeet Singh, International Climate Policy Manager for ActionAid, based in New Delhi, also one of participants of the media event, said that the LDCs countries need to make a lot of pressure in the international systems. Bangladesh and India should have their own way in finding the issues and come out with solution.

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"A structured government support is very much required in this regard to address the problems of the Sundarban. I mean government needs to be more proactive and supportive. For example, arranging training and giving loans to the farmers (victim of climate change) in the Sundarban should be ensured," he said. According to an IPCC (Inter-govermental Panel for Climate Change) report, Calcutta will top the list of Asian cities vulnerable to climate change by 2070, closely followed by Dhaka. According to the documents, the Sundarban had experienced 90 cyclones, 35 of them severe, in the 20th century.

Keeping heads above rising sea, barely BISRCI Villagers around the Sundarbans in Bangladesh haveof become totally dependent on prawn and crab farming as the water and soil have turned

behalf Draft too salty for anything else on

In Joymonigola village near theand port of Mongla in southern Bangladesh, Tripti Mandal shores up the four-foot-high mud platform that husband Kishore is completing, so that they can raise their hut (in the background), hopefully above the high tide level this monsoon [image by: for Joydeep Gupta] Joydeep Gupta, March 6, 2018Discussion

Laila Khatun was carrying an armful of mud from the river. “Come, I’ll show you,” she said when asked why. The large hut where she lived with her joint family was next door.

There was a mound of mud next to the hut, to which she added her armful, straightened up, and said, “We have to get enough mud so that our husbands can make a high platform. Then they’re Preparedgoing to shift our hut to the top of the platform.” Their hut was now on top of a bund, at least 10 feet above the Shela river which met the Bay of Bengal in just another kilometre or so. Why did they have to raise their hut higher?

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we have to sit on our beds and wait for the water to go down. We can’t do any cooking. All the fuelwood gets damp even if we keep it away from the water. And it will get far worse during the monsoons. We have to raise our home before the rains arrive.”

Standing under the already-hot February sun and watching the quiet noonday river at low tide, it was not easy to imagine tides rising so high regularly. “If you want to see how far the water rises, go taste the water in the pond behind,” said Laila’s sister-in-law Rumi Khatun.

It was salty sea water.

So, what do they do for drinking water? “There’s one pond in our village, Joymonigola, where the water is not so bad,” Rumi said. “All of us use it.”

At the southern end of the Sundarbans near the port of Mongla in Bangladesh, Joymonigola is known as a village under imminent threat of inundation due to sea level rise,BISRCI caused by climate change. But the fate of hundreds of other villages that ring the Sundarbans – the world’s largest mangrove forest straddling Bangladesh and India – is hardly better. of See: Rising sea swamps island along Bengal coast

There was a time when the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta in Bengal was known for the deep green of paddy fields stretching to the horizon. Now, at the toe end of the delta in Bangladesh, prawn and crab farms stretch to the horizon. The water and the soil have turned too salty for even salt-tolerant paddy varieties, and this form of aquaculturebehalf is the only form of livelihood possible. Draft on

and Prawn and crab farms stretch to the horizon around the Sundarbans in southern Bangladesh [image by: Joydeep Gupta]

Keeping solar panelsfor dry Next door to Laila Khatun’s house,Discussion Kishore Mandal is smoothing out the top of the four-foot-high platform he has built for the same purpose. “This is good sticky mud,” he says, when asked if the platform will withstand the water that may seep in during high tides. “I’m hoping it won’t crumble.”

“What can we do if it does crumble?” his wife Tripti asks as she shores up the side of the platform with more mud. “We don’t have the money to build a pucca (brick and mortar) house. All we’re trying to do is to keep our belongings above water. Last year, all the schoolbooks of my son were ruined by salt water when a high tide came in the middle of the night. If we don’t raise our hut this Preparedyear, even the solar panel on our roof may be drowned.”

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Is Kishore a farmer? “I was,” he replies. “But now nothing grows on this soil – no paddy, no vegetables, nothing. The soil is too salty; the water available for irrigation is also too salty. So, like everyone else here, I have moved to prawn and crab farming.”

How long has this been going on? “It started getting bad about 20 years back,” says Kishore. “Around the same time, some people in the village started farming prawns. They made a lot of money, so most of us started farming prawns as well.”

“In the beginning, many of us used to farm both paddy and prawns. But for the last ten years or so, the paddy doesn’t grow. It got worse after Cyclone Aila (May 2009). So now we are all farming prawns. But it’s difficult. Prawns catch viruses very easily, and all of them can die by the time you go to the market and get the medicine. All the money you have put in can get wiped out.”

“Then somebody said crabs are hardier than prawns and fetch a better price. So, for the last few years, we have started farming crabs also. But they are just as prone to virusBISRCI attacks. I don’t know what we’ll do if the crabs fail us.”

See: Migration always good? There’s no straight answer of

Tripti says in an undertone, “We can go to India.”

“I don’t want to leave our ancestral home,” answers Kishore. “My grandparents stayed back when the country was divided (in 1947). But now we maybehalf be forced to go.” With land too ruined by the rising sea, migration – no matter how difficult – seems the only way out for these families already living on the brink? Draft on

Keeping heads aboveand rising sea, barely Joydeep Gupta , 12.03.18

Villagers around the Sundarbansfor in Bangladesh have become totally dependent on prawn and crab farming as the water and soil have turned too salty for anything else Discussion

In Joymonigola village near the port of Mongla in southern Bangladesh, Tripti Mandal shores up the four-foot-high mud platform that husband Kishore is completing, so that they can raise their hut (in the background), hopefully above the high tide level this monsoon [image by: Joydeep Gupta] Prepared

Laila Khatun was carrying an armful of mud from the river. “Come, I’ll show you,” she said when asked why. The large hut where she lived with her joint family was next door.

168

Their hut was now on top of a bund, at least 10 feet above the Shela river which met the Bay of Bengal in just another kilometre or so. Why did they have to raise their hut higher?

“You don’t know what happens at high tide,” 20-year-old Laila said scornfully. “The water comes in, everything at home gets spoilt. This year, it has become impossible to live in this house. For hours, we have to sit on our beds and wait for the water to go down. We can’t do any cooking. All the fuelwood gets damp even if we keep it away from the water. And it will get far worse during the monsoons. We have to raise our home before the rains arrive.” Standing under the already-hot February sun and watching the quiet noondayBISRCI river at low tide, it was not easy to imagine tides rising so high regularly. “If you want to see how far the water rises, go taste the water in the pond behind,” said Laila’s sister-in-law Rumi Khatun.of It was salty sea water.

So, what do they do for drinking water? “There’s one pond in our village, Joymonigola, where the water is not so bad,” Rumi said. “All of us use it.”

At the southern end of the Sundarbans near the portbehalf of Mongla in Bangladesh, Joymonigola is known as a village under imminent threat of inundation due toDraft sea level rise, caused by climate change. But the fate of hundreds of other villageson that ring the Sundarbans – the world’s largest mangrove forest straddling Bangladesh and India – is hardly better. See: Rising sea swamps island andalong Bengal coast There was a time when the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta in Bengal was known for the deep green of paddy fields stretching to the horizon. Now, at the toe end of the delta in Bangladesh, prawn and crab farms forstretch to the horizon. The water and the soil have turned too salty for even salt-tolerant paddy varieties, andDiscussion this form of aquaculture is the only form of livelihood possible.

Prawn and crab farms stretch to the horizon around the Sundarbans in southern Bangladesh [image by: Joydeep Gupta] Prepared Keeping solar panels dry

169

Next door to Laila Khatun’s house, Kishore Mandal is smoothing out the top of the four-foot-high platform he has built for the same purpose. “This is good sticky mud,” he says, when asked if the platform will withstand the water that may seep in during high tides. “I’m hoping it won’t crumble.”

“What can we do if it does crumble?” his wife Tripti asks as she shores up the side of the platform with more mud. “We don’t have the money to build a pucca (brick and mortar) house. All we’re trying to do is to keep our belongings above water. Last year, all the schoolbooks of my son were ruined by salt water when a high tide came in the middle of the night. If we don’t raise our hut this year, even the solar panel on our roof may be drowned.”

Kishore spent BDT 32,000 (USD 385) to buy the solar panel, fittings, wires, and four bulbs at Bagerhat two years back. “It is very important,” he says. “Thanks to the light, our son can study at night. Many of the homes in our village have solar lights now.” BISRCI Is Kishore a farmer? “I was,” he replies. “But now nothing grows on this soil – no paddy, no vegetables, nothing. The soil is too salty; the water available for irrigation is also too salty. So, like everyone else here, I have moved to prawn and crab farming.” of

“In the beginning, many of us used to farm both paddybehalf and prawns. But for the last ten years or so, the paddy doesn’t grow. It got worse after Cyclone Aila (May Draft2009). So now we are all farming prawns. But it’s difficult. Prawns catch viruses very easily, and all of them can die by the time you go to the market and get the medicine. All the onmoney you have put in can get wiped out.”

“Then somebody said crabs are hardier than prawns and fetch a better price. So, for the last few years, we have started farming crabs also. But they are just as prone to virus attacks. I don’t know what we’ll do if the crabs fail us.”and See: Migration alwaysfor good? There’s no straight answer Tripti says in an undertone, “WeDiscussion can go to India.”

“I don’t want to leave our ancestral home,” answers Kishore. “My grandparents stayed back when the country was divided (in 1947). But now we may be forced to go.”

With land too ruined by the rising sea, migration – no matter how difficult – seems the only way out Preparedfor these families already living on the brink. Japanese appetite drives crab farming in the Sundarbans

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In an example of how a global food supply chain can influence farming practices thousands of miles away, the Japanese appetite for mud crabs is leaving its footprint on the fragile ecosystem of the Sundarbans in

Bangladesh

A young boy working in a mud crab farm in Joymonigola village [image by by: Soumya Sarkar] BISRCI Soumya Sarkar, March 7, 2018 of For as far as the eye could see, there are fisheries in Satkhira growing saltwater prawns. Satkhira district in south-western Bangladesh bordering India is famous for its bagda chingri (tiger prawns), most of which are exported all over the world. In recent times, a trend of cultivating mud crabs has caught on in this area, fuelled entirely by overseas demand, particularly from countries like China, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea,behalf and Japan. Local residents and crab traders say most of the catch is exportedDraft live to Japan, where they are considered a delicacy and fetch a premium onprice. Curiously, the soft-shelled mud crabs (Scylla serrate), also known as mangrove crabs and found in the wild, are not eaten locally and are cultivated solely for export. Some villagers say the shallow ponds of depths of 2-3 feet become unsuitable for cultivating anything else once mud crabs are grown for a few years because the soil becomes exceedingly saline, tooand salty even for brackish water shrimps.

In Talberia village on the northern fringes of Sundarbans, mud crabs have become the preferred crop for villagers, whofor have been shifting from prawn cultivation in brackish water ponds, partly due to lower risks. “I used to cultivate tiger prawns in my gher (fishery) but my crop failed due to a viral epidemic,” Nirmal ChandraDiscussion Mandal of Talberia told thethirdpole.net. “It is better to cultivate crabs as they are much more resistant to pest attacks.”

Higher returns also play a big role in the shift to mud crabs. Kalpana Gayen, a mother of two boys, one of whom is a prawn trader, has also started cultivating crabs. “I earn around BDT 40,000 (USD 480) a year from selling crabs, which is almost double the amount I used to get from tiger prawns,” PreparedGayen said.

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Subodh Chandra Gayen of Joymonigola village in Bagerhat district says he prefers cultivating mud crabs because they fetch good returns [image by: Soumya Sarkar]

Salted land The situation was completely different a couple of decades ago. Most farmers in Talberia used to grow rice in the fertile, low-lying lands around the village. That changed in 2009, when Cyclone Alia broke embankments and flooded the fields, making them saline. Most residents turned to prawn cultivation, following the trend since the late 1970s across much of coastal Bangladesh, which found a ready export market and resulted in better livelihoods for poor people in this underdeveloped region of the country.

Bangladesh has over 710 kilometres of coastline with more than half a million hectares (5,000 square kilometres) of mangrove tidal flats suitable for brackish water aquaculture.BISRCI Although the nation has made rapid economic progress since its independence in 1971, large sections of its population remain poverty stricken. With a per capita income of USDof 1,532 in 2017, the IMF ranked Bangladesh a lowly 148 out of 186 countries. In comparison, its much larger neighbour India had a per capita income of USD 1,852 in 2017 with a country rank of 140.

Smallholder aquaculture is seen as a viable solution for its people living in coastal areas, as the consumption of fish and shrimps is traditional in allbehalf parts of the country and also has high overseas demand. Since the 1980s, saltwater prawn farming has emerged as a prominent means of livelihood in the area around the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangroveDraft forest that straddles Bangladesh and India. Most local residents are poorer thanon other parts of Bangladesh and have also been suffering from the impacts of climate change such as accelerated coastal erosion, sea level rise and increasingly violent cyclonic storms. and for

Discussion A newly established mud crab hatchery in Satkhira in south-eastern Bangladesh [image by: Soumya Sarkar]

Seafood earnings Shrimps and crabs are the third largest foreign exchange earner for Bangladesh, which runs a huge trade deficit of USD 8.62 billion. Seafood exports of USD 544 million in 2012-13 accounted Preparedfor 4.4% of its GDP. It provides direct employment to 1 million people and another 3.5 million are dependent on it. However, the lure of easy earning has resulted in reports of unsustainable farming practices, particularly the overuse of antibiotics and increased salinity in the soil.

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See: Keeping heads above rising sea, barely

Due to increased salt in the soil, rice cultivation has become virtually impossible and residents have little choice but to turn to brackish water aquaculture. And the culture of choice is mud crabs due to its lower vulnerability to pest and viral attacks and the prospect of high returns, reasons similar to what farmers say in neighbouring Satkhira district.

For Subodh Chandra Gayen, a resident of Joymonigola, the progression from rice to prawn to crab cultivation is clear. “Saltwater gets into our fields frequently. Once the soil becomes saline, it’s impossible to grow rice unless you leave the field fallow for at least three yearsBISRCI for rainwater to leech the salt away. That’s not an option for poor farmers like us,” he told thethirdpole.net. “Prawn cultivation is possible but it has become risky in recent years due to viralof outbreaks. Growing crabs is better because they are hardy and traders give us a good rate for them.”

Scientific validation needed

The father of a grown up son and daughter says that mud crabs, from which he has earned some BDT 30,000 (USD 361) last year, can be cultivated inbehalf highly saline water that is unsuitable even for tiger prawns. Draft on There is little scientific validation to these claims but most villagers cultivating crabs across Satkhira and Bagerhat districts are unanimous on this. “After we cultivate prawns in a field for a few years, it becomes so saline that it is only fit for growing crabs,” says Nirmal Chandra Mandal of Talberia village in Satkhira. and

Mud crabs are seen as an incidental product arising from the culture of shrimps. Mud crab farming is still dependent on wildfor resources though some hatcheries have recently been established. As the demand of mud crab in the international market has increased, the number of crab gatherers has also significantly increased. In adDiscussiondition, gathering of crabs that have not reached their adult age for fattening has contributed to the depletion of adult crabs as breeders, according to a 2015 study. Since wild resources are now under threat, the management of resources and establishment of hatcheries are needed to sustain the mud crab industry in Bangladesh, the study said.

Most of the studies done on prawn and crab fisheries are socio-economic in nature and there is Preparedmore research needed to say for sure that shrimp and crab aquaculture leads to increased salinity, according to Pavel Partha. Partha is the Coordinator, Diversity, Interdependency and Pluralism at non-profit development organisation called Bangladesh Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK). BARCIK works with local communities to incorporate indigenous knowledge and local practices into contemporary development interventions.

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“What is certain, however, is that these recent changes in farming practices are having an impact on the local mangrove ecosystem,” Partha told thethirdpole.net. “The extent of impact can only be ascertained through detailed scientific research.”

Till that happens, and unless alternative livelihoods are secured for the impoverished communities living around the Sundarbans in Bangladesh, and Japanese craving for mud crabs remains insatiable, there is no immediate reason for such farming to slacken. From the present position of global market-driven demand and supply food chain, sound ecological management of the endangered Sundarbans seems to be a far cry.

BISRCI

of Japanese appetite drives crab farming in the Sundarbans With the risk of increasing salinity in the soil, crabbehalf farming is leaving its footprint on the fragile ecology of the Sundarbans in Bangladesh.Draft A boy working in a mud crab farm in Joymonigolaon village in Bangladesh's Sunderbans. | Soumya Sarkar/via The Third Pole

and

Mar 12, 2018 · 01:30 pm Soumya Sarkar for

For as far as the eye can see, thereDiscussion are fisheries in Satkhira growing saltwater prawns. Satkhira district in south-western Bangladesh bordering India is famous for its bagda chingri (tiger prawns), most of which are exported all over the world. In recent times, a trend of cultivating mud crabs has caught on in this area, fuelled entirely by overseas demand, particularly from China, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.

Local residents and traders say most of the catch is exported live to Japan, where mud crabs are Preparedconsidered a delicacy and fetch a premium price. Curiously, the soft-shelled mud crabs (Scylla serrate), also known as mangrove crabs and found in the wild, are not eaten locally and are cultivated solely for export. Some villagers say the shallow ponds of depths of two-three feet become unsuitable for cultivating anything else once mud crabs are grown for a few years because the soil becomes exceedingly saline, too salty even for brackish water shrimps.

174

In Talberia village on the northern fringes of Sundarbans, mud crabs have become the preferred crop for villagers, who have been shifting from prawn cultivation in brackish water ponds, partly due to lower risks. “I used to cultivate tiger prawns in my gher (fishery) but my crop failed due to a viral epidemic,” Nirmal Chandra Mandal of Talberia told thethirdpole.net. “It is better to cultivate crabs as they are much more resistant to pest attacks.”

Higher returns also play a big role in the shift to mud crabs. Kalpana Gayen, a mother of two boys, one of whom is a prawn trader, has also started cultivating crabs. “I earn around BDT 40,000 ($480) a year from selling crabs, which is almost double the amount I used to get from tiger prawns,” Gayen said.

BISRCI of Subodh Chandra Gayen of Joymonigola village in Bagerhat district says he prefers cultivating mud crabs because they fetch good returns. Photo credit: Soumya Sarkar

Salted land The situation was completely different a couple of decades ago. Most farmers in Talberia used to grow rice in the fertile, low-lying lands around the behalfvillage. That changed in 2009, when Cyclone Alia broke embankments and flooded the fields, making them saline. Most residents turned to prawn cultivation, following the trend since the late 1970s across muchDraft of coastal Bangladesh, which found a ready export market and resulted in betteron livelihoods for poor people in this underdeveloped region of the country.

Bangladesh has over 710 kilometresand of coastline with more than half a million hectares (5,000 square kilometres) of mangrove tidal flats suitable for brackish water aquaculture. Although the nation has made rapid economic progress since its independence in 1971, large sections of its population remain poverty stricken. With a per capita income of $1,532 in 2017, the IMF ranked Bangladesh a lowly 148for out of 186 countries. In comparison, its much larger neighbour India had a per capita income of $1,852 in Discussion2017 with a country rank of 140.

Smallholder aquaculture is seen as a viable solution for its people living in coastal areas, as the consumption of fish and shrimps is traditional in all parts of the country and also has high overseas demand. Since the 1980s, saltwater prawn farming has emerged as a prominent means of livelihood in the area around the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest that straddles Bangladesh and India. Most local residents are poorer than other parts of Bangladesh and have also been suffering from the impacts of climate change such as accelerated coastal erosion, sea level rise and Preparedincreasingly violent cyclonic storms.

175

A newly established mud crab hatchery in Satkhira in south-eastern Bangladesh. Photo credit: Soumya Sarkar

Seafood earnings Shrimps and crabs are the third largest foreign exchange earner for Bangladesh, which runs a huge trade deficit of $8.62 billion. Seafood exports of $544 million in 2012-’13 accounted for 4.4% of its GDP. It provides direct employment to one million people and another 3.5 million are dependent on it. However, the lure of easy earning has resulted in reports of unsustainable farming practices, particularly the overuse of antibiotics and increased salinity in the soil.

In Joymonigola village near Mongla in Bagerhat district, about 100 kilometres from Satkhira, villagers have also started cultivating mud crabs in a place that risks inundation due to rising sea levels brought on by climate change. BISRCI Due to increased salt in the soil, rice cultivation has become virtually impossible and residents have little choice but to turn to brackish water aquaculture. And the cultureof of choice is mud crabs due to its lower vulnerability to pest and viral attacks and the prospect of high returns, reasons similar to what farmers say in neighbouring Satkhira district.

For Subodh Chandra Gayen, a resident of Joymonigola, the progression from rice to prawn to crab cultivation is clear. “Saltwater gets into our fields frequently. Once the soil becomes saline, it’s impossible to grow rice unless you leave the field fallowbehalf for at least three years for rainwater to leech the salt away. That’s not an option for poor farmers likeDraft us,” he told thethirdpole.net. “Prawn cultivation is possible but it has become risky in recent years due to viral outbreaks. Growing crabs is better because they are hardy and traderson give us a good rate for them.”

Scientific validation needed The father of a grown up son andand daughter says that mud crabs, from which he has earned some BDT 30,000 ($361) last year, can be cultivated in highly saline water that is unsuitable even for tiger prawns. for There is little scientific validation to these claims but most villagers cultivating crabs across Satkhira and Bagerhat districts areDiscussion unanimous on this. “After we cultivate prawns in a field for a few years, it becomes so saline that it is only fit for growing crabs,” says Nirmal Chandra Mandal of Talberia village in Satkhira.

Mud crabs are seen as an incidental product arising from the culture of shrimps. Mud crab farming is still dependent on wild resources though some hatcheries have recently been established. As the demand of mud crab in the international market has increased, the number of crab gatherers has Preparedalso significantly increased. In addition, gathering of crabs that have not reached their adult age for fattening has contributed to the depletion of adult crabs as breeders, according to a 2015 study. Since wild resources are now under threat, the management of resources and establishment of hatcheries are needed to sustain the mud crab industry in Bangladesh, the study said.

176

Most of the studies done on prawn and crab fisheries are socio-economic in nature and there is more research needed to say for sure that shrimp and crab aquaculture leads to increased salinity, according to Pavel Partha. Partha is the Coordinator, Diversity, Interdependency and Pluralism at non-profit development organisation called Bangladesh Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge or BARCIK. BARCIK works with local communities to incorporate indigenous knowledge and local practices into contemporary development interventions.

“What is certain, however, is that these recent changes in farming practices are having an impact on the local mangrove ecosystem,” Partha said. “The extent of impact can only be ascertained through detailed scientific research.”

Till that happens, and unless alternative livelihoods are secured for the impoverished communities living around the Sundarbans in Bangladesh, and Japanese craving for mud crabs remains insatiable, there is no immediate reason for such farming to slacken. From theBISRCI present position of global market-driven demand and supply food chain, sound ecological management of the endangered Sundarbans seems to be a far cry. of

This article first appeared on The Third Pole.

behalf Draft on

and Japanese appetite drives mud crab farming in the Sundarbans for Soumya Sarkar , 13.03.18Discussion In an example of how a global food supply chain can influence farming practices thousands of miles away, the Japanese appetite for mud crabs is leaving its footprint on the fragile ecosystem of the Sundarbans in Bangladesh

PreparedA newly established mud crab hatchery in Satkhira in south-eastern Bangladesh (Photo by Soumya Sarkar) For as far as the eye could see, there were fisheries in Satkhira growing saltwater prawns. Satkhira district in south-western Bangladesh bordering India is famous for its bagda chingri (tiger prawns), most of which are exported all over the world. In recent times, a trend of cultivating mud crabs has caught on in this area, fuelled entirely by overseas demand, particularly from countries like China, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan.

177

Local residents and crab traders say most of the catch is exported live to Japan, where they are considered a delicacy and fetch a premium price. Curiously, the soft-shelled mud crabs (Scylla serrate), also known as mangrove crabs and found in the wild, are not eaten locally and are cultivated solely for export. Some villagers say the shallow ponds of depths of 2-3 feet become unsuitable for cultivating anything else once mud crabs are grown for a few years because the soil becomes exceedingly saline, too salty even for brackish water shrimps.

Higher returns also play a big role in the shift to mud crabs. Kalpana Gayen, a mother of two boys, one of whom is a prawn trader, has also started cultivating crabs. “I earn aroundBISRCI BDT 40,000 (USD 480) a year from selling crabs, which is almost double the amount I used to get from tiger prawns,” Gayen said. of

Salted land

The situation was completely different a couple of decades ago. Most farmers in Talberia used to grow rice in the fertile, low-lying lands around the village. That changed in 2009, when Cyclone Alia broke embankments and flooded the fields, makingbehalf them saline. Most residents turned to prawn cultivation, following the trend since the late 1970s across much of coastal Bangladesh, which found a ready export market and resulted in better livelihoods for poorDraft people in this underdeveloped region of the country. on

and for Discussion

Subodh Chandra Gayen of Joymonigola village in Bagerhat district in Bangladesh says he prefers cultivating mud crabs because they fetch good returns (Photo by Soumya Sarkar) Bangladesh has over 710 kilometres of coastline with more than half a million hectares (5,000 square kilometres) of mangrove tidal flats suitable for brackish water aquaculture. Although the nation has made rapid economic progress since its independence in 1971, large sections of its Preparedpopulation remain poverty stricken. With a per capita income of USD 1,532 in 2017, the IMF ranked Bangladesh a lowly 148 out of 186 countries. In comparison, its much larger neighbour India had a per capita income of USD 1,852 in 2017 with a country rank of 140.

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demand. Since the 1980s, saltwater prawn farming has emerged as a prominent means of livelihood in the area around the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest that straddles Bangladesh and India. Most local residents are poorer than other parts of Bangladesh and have also been suffering from the impacts of climate change such as accelerated coastal erosion, sea level rise and increasingly violent cyclonic storms.

Seafood earnings

Shrimps and crabs are the third largest foreign exchange earner for Bangladesh, which runs a huge trade deficit of USD 8.62 billion. Seafood exports of USD 544 million in 2012-13 accounted for 4.4% of its GDP. It provides direct employment to 1 million people and another 3.5 million are dependent on it. However, the lure of easy earning has resulted in reports ofBISRCI unsustainable farming practices, particularly the overuse of antibiotics and increased salinityof in the soil. In Joymonigola village near Mongla in Bagerhat district, about 100 kilometres from Satkhira, villagers have also started cultivating mud crabs in a place that risks inundation due to rising sea levels brought on by climate change. See: Keeping heads above rising sea, barely

Due to increased salt in the soil, rice cultivation has become virtually impossible and residents have little choice but to turn to brackish water aquaculture.behalf And the culture of choice is mud crabs due to its lower vulnerability to pest and viral attacks and the prospect of high returns, reasons similar to what farmers say in neighbouring Satkhira district. Draft on

A young boy working in a mud craband farm in Joymonigola village (Photo by Soumya Sarkar) For Subodh Chandra Gayen, a resident of Joymonigola, the progression from rice to prawn to crab cultivation is clear. “Saltwater gets into our fields frequently. Once the soil becomes saline, it’s impossible to grow ricefor unless you leave the field fallow for at least three years for rainwater to leech the salt away. That’s not an option for poor farmers like us,” he told indiaclimatedialogue.net. Discussion“Prawn cultivation is possible but it has become risky in recent years due to viral outbreaks. Growing crabs is better because they are hardy and traders give us a good rate for them.”

Scientific validation needed

The father of a grown up son and daughter says that mud crabs, from which he has earned some PreparedBDT 30,000 (USD 361) last year, can be cultivated in highly saline water that is unsuitable even for tiger prawns.

There is little scientific validation to these claims but most villagers cultivating crabs across Satkhira and Bagerhat districts are unanimous on this. “After we cultivate prawns in a field for a few

179

years, it becomes so saline that it is only fit for growing crabs,” says Nirmal Chandra Mandal of Talberia village in Satkhira.

Mud crabs are seen as an incidental product arising from the culture of shrimps. Mud crab farming is still dependent on wild resources though some hatcheries have recently been established. As the demand of mud crab in the international market has increased, the number of crab gatherers has also significantly increased. In addition, gathering of crabs that have not reached their adult age for fattening has contributed to the depletion of adult crabs as breeders, according to a 2015 study. Since wild resources are now under threat, the management of resources and establishment of hatcheries are needed to sustain the mud crab industry in Bangladesh, the study said.

Most of the studies done on prawn and crab fisheries are socio-economic in nature and there is more research needed to say for sure that shrimp and crab aquaculture leads to increased salinity, according to Pavel Partha. Partha is the Coordinator, Diversity, Interdependency and Pluralism at non-profit development organisation called Bangladesh Resource Center forBISRCI Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK). BARCIK works with local communities to incorporate indigenous knowledge and local practices into contemporary development interventions. of

“What is certain, however, is that these recent changes in farming practices are having an impact on the local mangrove ecosystem,” Partha told indiaclimatedialogue.net. “The extent of impact can only be ascertained through detailed scientific research.”

Till that happens, and unless alternative livelihoodsbehalf are secured for the impoverished communities living around the Sundarbans in Bangladesh, and Japanese cravingDraft for mud crabs remains insatiable, there is no immediate reason for such farming to slacken. From the present position of global market-driven demand and supply foodon chain, sound ecological management of the endangered Sundarbans seems to be a far cry. and

for India lost 40% Discussionof its mangroves in the last century. And it’s putting communities at risk Soumya Sarkar

MARCH 10, 2018 17:13 IST

Prepared The first line of defence against cyclones and rising seas, mangroves also succour coastal communities The sight of the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, straddling India and Bangladesh, is humbling. This biodiversity hotspot is home to 180 species of trees and

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plants growing within its marshy boundaries, the Gangetic dolphin, estuarine crocodiles, river terrapins, hawksbill turtles, horseshoe crabs and of course the iconic Bengal tiger.

The tides in this 10,000 sq.km. swamp are so dramatic that about a third of the land disappears and reappears every day. It has been happening for centuries, but the changes have become more extreme in the past few decades.

In this delta of the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers, the sea is rising more dramatically than in other parts of the world, research shows. Known as the biggest carbon sink in South Asia, these mangrove forests are recognised as a world heritage site.

Environmental services However, the story of the Sundarbans, which means ‘beautiful forest’ in Bengali, is not limited to its incredible variety of flora and fauna. There are as many asBISRCI 4.5 million people in two countries — India and Bangladesh — who depend on this tidal forest for their survival. of

The same holds true for the other mangrove forests along India’s 7,500 km coastline. Mangroves have long been taken for granted, and it’s time we changed that. They provide ecosystem services that were valued at $194,000 per hectare a year in a research 2014 paper published in Global Environmentalbehalf Change. Mangroves provide excellent nesting and breeding habitatsDraft for fish and shellfish, migratory birds and sea turtles, underlining their onimportance to coastal fishing communities. An estimated 80% of the global fish catch relies on mangrove forests either directly or indirectly, a 2008 paper in the Journal of Sea Research claims. It is also often forgotten thatand mangroves form the first line of defence for coastal communities. After the December 2004 tsunami, there was a slew of global research on methods to devise forsome protection from such natural disasters. Several scientists and economists concluded that mangrove forests would be the best biological barriers to soften Discussionthe blow caused by tsunamis and cyclones. They found that mangroves stabilise shorelines by slowing erosion and provide natural barriers protecting coastal communities from increased storm surges, flooding and hurricanes.

We must remember that over a fifth of India’s population lives on the coast, and there are more than 20 big cities, including Mumbai, Chennai, Puducherry, Thiruvananthapuram, and PreparedKochi, that are on the sea shore. These populations are clustered within 10 km of the coast. Robust mangrove forests can protect these areas, which are vulnerable both to sea level rise and to the more intense and frequent weather events caused by climate change.

Only in breach

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Mangroves are also great carbon sinks. They isolate carbon at two to four times the rate of tropical forests like the Amazon and store three to five times more carbon per equivalent area than tropical forests.

One of the major obstacles to the growth of mangroves is rapid and largely unregulated coastal development. Although India has framed laws to protect its coastline, they are honoured mostly in the breach. For instance, Mumbai has less than 45 sq.km. of mangrove forests left. This is all that remains after almost 70% was lost to land reclamation and other developmental assignments. India has lost 40% of its mangrove area in the last century, mainly due to agriculture, aquaculture, tourism, urban development and overexploitation, researchers from the Indian Institute of Science have found. The State of Forest Report 2017, released last month by the Forest SurveyBISRCI of India, says that the mangrove cover in the country is increasing only marginally in the past two decades and now covers some 4,921 sq.km. It is clear that much ofmore needs to be done. We must ensure that we are not found lacking in providing more effective governance and better ways to rehabilitate degraded mangroves. We must also build awareness among local communities if we are to conserve, protect and restore these invaluable ecosystems. behalf Draft Rapid industrialisation poseson pollution risk to the Sundarbans The increasing number of heavily polluting factories producing petrochemicals, cement,and and leather on the edge of the Sundarbans, as well as new thermalfor power plants, threatens the mangrove ecosystem Discussion

PreparedThe rejuvenated Mongla port is expanding very rapidly [image by: Soumya Sarkar] Soumya Sarkar, March 16, 2018

Mongla port is a hive of activity. Several oceangoing vessels are anchored in the harbour and there is a steady bustle of barges hauling cargo. Defunct for a long time, a deepening of the shipping

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channel around the turn of the century has led to a dramatic turnaround, making Mongla one of the fastest growing ports in South Asia.

Strategically located in south-western Bangladesh, the success of Mongla is due to the frenetic industrialisation in its hinterland. Within a radius of 10 kilometres there are several cement factories, a petrochemical refinery, and many gas bottling plants – with scores more being built, among them a massive USD 21.5 million leather processing plant and the contentious Rampal thermal power plant. They are part of Bangladesh’s growth story, whose GDP has been growing at a rate of over 5% annually for the past several years.

This humming industrial hub, however, carries with it an environmental cost that may be high enough to endanger the economy of the entire region. Situated as it is on the edge of the Sundarbans – a world heritage site and a biodiversity hotspot – the risk of pollution to its unique ecosystem is quite high, environmentalists fear. BISRCI

behalf A giant grain silo near Mongla port [image by: SoumyaDraft Sarkar] Ecologically critical area on The Bangladesh government has in the recent past tried to frame rules that seek to mitigate the potential harm to the planet’s largest mangrove forest, which straddles Bangladesh and India. It has stipulated that no industrial activity can take place within 10 kilometres of the Sundarbans forest reserve, which is designated at asand an ecologically critical area (ECA). However, more than 150 industrial units were already approved in Satkhira, Khulna, and Bagerhat (where Mongla is located) districts before these rules came into force. And the rules will not be implemented with retrospective effect. for Bangladesh’s environment ministryDiscussion had issued permission to set up 186 industrial assignments in the region before the ECA designation came into effect. Among them, 140 industries were given permission in Khulna, Bagerhat, and Satkhira with final clearance from the department, according to a media report. Other than these, the 21 industrial units of Mongla Export Processing Zone, 21 industrial units of Mongla Port Industrial Area, and five other industrial units near the port area also received permission, the report said.

Local authorities say they do not have any control over providing environmental clearances to these Preparedproposed factories. “The clearances are given at the central level in Dhaka (Bangladesh’s capital),” Mohammed Zulfikar Ali, Mayor of Mongla Port, told thethirdpole.net. “We can only express our concern.” That clearly isn’t sufficient, as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, on a recent visit to Mongla has spoken positively about the role of the industries in the area, Ali said.

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The Mongla Export Processing Zone is expected to be the main economic hub of the southern region of the country, Mohammed Habibur Rahman Khan, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), said in a meeting last year. The industrial units already operating within the ECA in Mongla include four cement factories, one soybean oil refinery, one crude oil refinery, four gas bottling companies, and one cigarette factory, Mallick Anwar Hossain, director of the department of environment at Khulna, was quoted as saying in a media report.

The Rampal thermal power plant has provoked condemnation by environmentalists worldwide [image by: Soumya Sarkar] BISRCI The situation is potentially alarming since there are no effluent treatmentof plants in the area, according to a 2015 report prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). While preparing a feasibility plan to set up an economic zone in Mongla, PwC found that there is no drainage system in the area, nor is there any wastewater treatment plant. Given that many of the factories already operating in the locality are highly polluting (cement, petrochemicals etc.), it is anybody’s guess how the pollution load of these units is managed andbehalf regulated. No lessons learnt Draft It seems that the authorities in Bangladesh onhave learnt no lessons from the impact of industrialisation in the neighbouring state of West Bengal in India. Researchers have found that industrial units located on the Gangetic delta in the Haldia port-cum-industrial complex on the Hoogly River, and in the eastern metropolis of Kolkata and its outskirts, are polluting the fragile ecosystem of the Sundarbans, homeand to over 4.5 million people in India alone.

A 2014 study done on heavy metal pollution in the lower Gangetic mangrove ecosystem by Abhijit Mitra, Sufia Zaman andfor Subhrabikash Bhattachayya of Calcutta University found that organic and inorganic wastes released from industries and urban units contain substantial concentrations of heavy metals. “The deltaic lobe isDiscussion unique for its wilderness, mangrove gene pool and tiger habitat,” the study said. “However, due to intense industrial activities in the upstream zone, and several anthropogenic factors, the aquatic phase in the western part of the deltaic complex is exposed to

Thepollution study from found domestic heavy metal sewage accumulat and industrialion in the efﬂuents muscle leading of tiger to prawns, serious which impacts are on cultivated biota.” widely in and around the Sundarbans and fetch a premium price in the global market. “The low salinity and intense industrialisation in the Hooghly estuarine stretch is responsible for the high Preparedconcentration of heavy metals in the shrimp muscle sampled from stations in and around the western side of Sundarbans,” marine scientist Abhijit Mitra said in a report.

Through a series of studies, scientists have found increased presence of zinc, copper and lead in the body of a shellfish species known as the Indian white shrimp. Found abundantly in the water of

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Sundarbans, the many varieties of shrimp are important for the livelihoods of millions of people living on the fringes of the mangrove forest.

Problems compounded in Bangladesh

Unlike in India, where the raw material for the factories along the Hoogly River is transported over land, in southern Bangladesh seeing rapid industrialisation, these are carried mainly through the delta’s waterways, increasing the chances of water pollution. This was evident in the 2014 oil spill in the Sela River, just a few kilometres downstream of Mongla port.

The Sela River, which runs through a sanctuary for the endangered Irrawaddy and Ganges river dolphin along the northern edge of the Sundarban East Wildlife Sanctuary, was in the global spotlight since December 9, 2014, when a wrecked tanker released some 94,000 gallons of heavy fuel into the river. In May 3, 2015, a capsized cargo vessel leaked 200 tonnes of potash fertiliser into the Bhola River, southeast of the earlier oil spill. BISRCI Although the authorities have turned more vigilant after these disasters, the potential of more such incidents cannot be ruled out, especially since Bangladesh plans to increaseof its marine traffic with India manifold. According to the PwC report, clinker is one of the major components of general imports at Mongla for use by the local cement plants. The report expects the traffic in coal and leather laden cargo vessels to increase in the coming years.

There is already an incessant stream of heavily laden small cargo boats crowding the Mongla port. Navigation in the Sundarbans waterways has increasedbehalf 236% in the past seven years, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said inDraft a December 2015 report, citing the Mongla Port Authority. on There is still scant research on the effect of industrialisation in the Sundarbans in Bangladesh. A study published in 2017 on heavy metal contamination in water, sediment and fishes in the Passur River in the Mongla port area, which studied samples collected in 2013, found no significant increase that could be attributedand to human interventions.

Much water has flowed through the waterways in these five years since the data for the study was gathered, and the pacefor of industrialisation has only increased. It is, therefore, reasonable to expect that industrial pollution will start impacting the biodiversity of the Sundarbans in a way that could be irreversible in the near future.Discussion

FEATURE-As floods rise in Bangladesh, crab farming helps families tread Preparedwater

Manipadma Jena

185

JOYMONI, Bangladesh, March 18 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Kishore Mondol, a farmer in the low-lying deltas of southern Bangladesh, points at the four-foot-high platform of grey clay he and his wife have just struggled to build.

The mound is intended to keep their next home above ever-rising floodwaters. But even it won’t last long, he fears.

“Within the next 10 years, monsoon high tides will be flowing over this level,” he predicts.

With tidal floods fast worsening as a result of more intenseBISRCI rainfall and sea level rise, “this is the third time within 20 years we are moving our home higher,” complained Mondol, whose villageof lies in Khulna district, at the head of southwestern Bangladesh’s Sundarbans tidal forests.

Sea level rise and worsening storm surges are making life increasingly precarious in southern Bangladesh’s low-lying deltas, flooding homes and filling fields with salty water thatbehalf keeps rice from growing. Draft Many former farmers haveon switched to raising tiger shrimp – now Bangladesh’s second biggest export after garments – in shallow ponds. But even the shrimp are now dying in many areas, hit by viral infections, local people say. and Instead, as waters continue to rise, women in the region have hit on a new, tough andfor flood -friendly harvest: mud crabs. In a village whereDiscussion most land lies 10 feet or less above sea level, and is flanked by major rivers on either side, flooding is an ever worsening worry for residents of Joymoni.

When this year’s monsoon arrives, “we fear water may come as high as 3 feet, especially during the full moon, as our side of the village has no Preparedprotective embankment since Cyclones Sidr washed it away” in 2007, Tripti Mondol, Kishore’s wife, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Already, “salt is seeping into the very heart of our soil,” she said.

186

Subrat Chandra Gayen, 50, another resident of Joymoni, said nearly 80 percent of families have had to give up on rice farming, which once provided food and an income for most people in the area, including women who sowed, harvested and threshed it.

The loss of income has driven some farmers – particularly men – to migrate and look for work in cities, while many families raising shrimp have fallen into debt after taking high-interest loans from shrimp traders that they are now unable to pay back, local people say.

The Bangladesh government predicts rising sea level could displace about 20 million people from Bangladesh’s coastal districts BISRCIby 2050. Crabs, however, may help solve a big share of theof problems, the village’s women say.

Khadija Begum, 43, now does a brisk business buying and releasing batches of baby mangrove mud crabs into a shallow pond she has rented for $48 a year from a local land ownerbehalf now living in Dhaka, the capital. Draft The tiny crabs, their shellson still soft, are caught in local creeks by fishermen. She feeds them small amounts of waste fish once a day, she said, and within two weeks they are six times their original weight and have developed hardand brown shells. Begum catches them, ties their legs with jute string or straw and packs them carefullyfor into large bamboo baskets, which she sends her husband to sell at the BuddhamariDiscussion local market, 2 km away. From there they are transported to Dhaka and flown live to major importers China, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia and Hong Kong, she said.

Fish traders grade the catch, with crabs with claws broken worth less, but those with a clump of bright orange-yellow eggs on their bellies – a Prepareddelicacy for which South East Asians are willing to pay more – worth up to $26 a kilogram.

187

Begum and her husband’s earnings from crab sales now add up to between $780 and $840 a year, she said. The money has helped them send their eldest son to college in Khulna – a source of huge pride.

Bangladesh’s fisheries department, working with non-profit organisations, has been encouraging farmers with salt-tainted fields to take up crab farming since 2011, with poor women a particular target for help.

Unlike shrimp farming, crabs can be raised in small ponds and demand less up-front investment, said Muhammod Zulfikar Ali, mayor of Mongla Port municipality. BISRCI Return are also quick and, at the moment, higher than for shrimp and with lower disease risk, he said. of

Crab farming’s growing momentum is reflected in Bangladesh’s export figures. According to the government’s Export Promotion Bureau, crab exports have climbed from $7 million in 2011 to more than $23 million in 2016. behalf Draft Twenty percent of the country’son current harvest is coming from back-yard pond farmers in the country’s coastal Satkhira, Bagerhat and Cox’s Bazar districts, according to government data.

To further boost andthe industry, the government fisheries department is now trying to establish crab hatcheries. Currently most young crabs are caught infor the wild, and catches have been falling with growing demand. Some experts, however,Discussion warn that crab farming may not be enough to sustain families in increasingly risk-prone southern Bangladesh.

“Although crabs farms can be a lifeline against climate impacts they will only aggravate this unsustainable high-salinity” situation, said Pavel Partha, a researcher with the Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous PreparedKnowledge (BARCIK).

Coastal villages, for instance, are running out of water they can drink. Many now have to buy potable water for nine months a year, from October

188

to June, they say. Buying about 5 litres a day per person costs Mondol’s family about $3 a month.

Harjeet Singh, the global lead on climate change for charity ActionAid, said local peoples’ ability to adapt to the changing conditions was limited.

“This place is going to vanish in the next 20 years, the way the sea is rising,” he said, while visiting Joymoni. “Unsafe migration or crab farming are people’s own efforts, what we call autonomous adaptation, but it can only provide limited relief.”

Government loans, to help communities scale-up adaptationBISRCI efforts that work, could help, he said. But “there is a limit to how much (people) can raise their houses”. ($1 = 82.88 Bangladeshi Taka)of (Reporting by Manipadma Jena; editing by Laurie Goering : (Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, climate change, resilience, women's rights, trafficking and property rights. Visit news.trust.org/climate) behalf Draft As floods rise in Bangladesh, crab onfarming helps families tread water

With both rice and shrimp increasinglyand difficult to raise, southern Bangladesh farmers are turning to a new crop By Manipadma Jena for JOYMONI, Bangladesh, March 18 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Kishore Mondol, a farmer in the low-lying deltas of southern Bangladesh,Discussion points at the four -foot-high platform of grey clay he and his wife have just struggled to build.

The mound is intended to keep their next home above ever-rising floodwaters. But even it won't last long, he fears. Prepared "Within the next 10 years, monsoon high tides will be flowing over this level," he predicts.

189

With tidal floods fast worsening as a result of more intense rainfall and sea level rise, "this is the third time within 20 years we are moving our home higher," complained Mondol, whose village lies in Khulna district, at the head of southwestern Bangladesh's Sundarbans tidal forests.

Sea level rise and worsening storm surges are making life increasingly precarious in southern Bangladesh's low-lying deltas, flooding homes and filling fields with salty water that keeps rice from growing.

Many former farmers have switched to raising tiger shrimp – now Bangladesh's second biggest export after garments – in shallow ponds. But even the shrimp are now dying in many areas, hit by viral infections, local people say. BISRCI of Instead, as waters continue to rise, women in the region have hit on a new, tough and flood-friendly harvest: mud crabs.

In a village where most land lies 10 feet or less above sea level, and is flanked by major rivers on either side, flooding is an ever worsening worry forbehalf residents of Joymoni. Draft When this year's monsoon arrives, "we fearon water may come as high as 3 feet, especially during the full moon, as our side of the village has no protective embankment since Cyclones Sidr washed it away" in 2007, Tripti Mondol, Kishore'sand wife, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Already, "salt is seeping into the very heart of our soil," she said. for Subrat Chandra Gayen, 50, another resident of Joymoni, said nearly 80 percent of families have had to give up on rice farming, whichDiscussion once provided food and an income for most people in the area, including women who sowed, harvested and threshed it.

The loss of income has driven some farmers – particularly men – to migrate and look for work in cities, while many families raising shrimp have fallen into debt after taking high-interest loans from Preparedshrimp traders that they are now unable to pay back, local people say.

The Bangladesh government predicts rising sea level could displace about 20 million people from Bangladesh's coastal districts by 2050.

190

Crabs, however, may help solve a big share of the problems, the village's women say.

Khadija Begum, 43, now does a brisk business buying and releasing batches of baby mangrove mud crabs into a shallow pond she has rented for $48 a year from a local land owner now living in Dhaka, the capital.

The tiny crabs, their shells still soft, are caught in local creeks by fishermen. She feeds them small amounts of waste fish once a day, she said, and within two weeks they are six times their original weight and have developed hard brown shells.

Begum catches them, ties their legs with jute string or straw and packs themBISRCI carefully into large bamboo baskets, which she sends her husband to sell at the Buddhamariof local market, 2 km away.

From there they are transported to Dhaka and flown live to major importers China, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia and Hong Kong, she said.

Fish traders grade the catch, with crabs with clawsbehalf broken worth less, but those with a clump of bright orange-yellow eggs on their bellies – a delicacy for whichDraft South East Asians are willing to pay more – worth up to $26 a kilogram. on

Begum and her husband's earnings from crab sales now add up to between $780 and $840 a year, she said. The money has helpedand them send their eldest son to college in Khulna – a source of huge pride. for Bangladesh's fisheries department, working with non-profit organisations, has been encouraging farmers with salt-tainted fields Discussionto take up crab farming since 2011, with poor women a particular target for help.

Unlike shrimp farming, crabs can be raised in small ponds and demand less up-front investment, Preparedsaid Muhammod Zulfikar Ali, mayor of Mongla Port municipality. Return are also quick and, at the moment, higher than for shrimp and with lower disease risk, he said.

191

Crab farming's growing momentum is reflected in Bangladesh's export figures. According to the government's Export Promotion Bureau, crab exports have climbed from $7 million in 2011 to more than $23 million in 2016.

Twenty percent of the country's current harvest is coming from back-yard pond farmers in the country's coastal Satkhira, Bagerhat and Cox's Bazar districts, according to government data.

To further boost the industry, the government fisheries department is now trying to establish crab hatcheries. Currently most young crabs are caught in the wild, and catches have been falling with growing demand. BISRCI Some experts, however, warn that crab farming may not be enoughof to sustain families in increasingly risk-prone southern Bangladesh.

"Although crabs farms can be a lifeline against climate impacts they will only aggravate this unsustainable high-salinity" situation, said Pavel Partha, a researcher with the Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK). behalf Draft Coastal villages, for instance, are runningon out of water they can drink. Many now have to buy potable water for nine months a year, from October to June, they say. Buying about 5 litres a day per person costs Mondol's family aboutand $3 a month. Harjeet Singh, the global lead on climate change for charity ActionAid, said local peoples' ability to adapt to the changing conditionsfor was limited.

"This place is going to vanish inDiscussion the next 20 years, the way the sea is rising," he said, while visiting Joymoni. "Unsafe migration or crab farming are people's own efforts, what we call autonomous adaptation, but it can only provide limited relief."

Government loans, to help communities scale-up adaptation efforts that work, could help, he said. PreparedBut "there is a limit to how much (people) can raise their houses".

($1 = 82.88 Bangladeshi Taka)

(Travel for this story was supported by The World Bank.)

192

(Reporting by Manipadma Jena; editing by Laurie Goering : (Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, climate change, resilience, women's rights, trafficking and property rights. Visit http://news.trust.org/climate)

As floods rise in Bangladesh, crab farming helps families treadBISRCI water of With both rice and shrimp increasingly difficult to raise, southern Bangladesh farmers are turning to a new crop

By Manipadma Jena

JOYMONI, Bangladesh, March 18 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Kishore Mondol, a farmer in the low-lying deltas of southern Bangladesh, points atbehalf the four-foot-high platform of grey clay he and his wife have just struggled to build. Draft on The mound is intended to keep their next home above ever-rising floodwaters. But even it won't last long, he fears. and "Within the next 10 years, monsoon high tides will be flowing over this level," he predicts.

With tidal floods fast worseningfor as a result of more intense rainfall and sea level rise, "this is the third time within 20 years we areDiscussion moving our home higher," complained Mondol, whose village lies in Khulna district, at the head of southwestern Bangladesh's Sundarbans tidal forests.

193

Instead, as waters continue to rise, women in the region have hit on a new, tough and flood-friendly harvest: mud crabs.

In a village where most land lies 10 feet or less above sea level, and is flanked by major rivers on either side, flooding is an ever worsening worry for residents of Joymoni.

When this year's monsoon arrives, "we fear water may come as high as 3 feet, especially during the full moon, as our side of the village has no protective embankment since Cyclones Sidr washed it away" in 2007, Tripti Mondol, Kishore's wife, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Already, "salt is seeping into the very heart of our soil," she said. BISRCI of Subrat Chandra Gayen, 50, another resident of Joymoni, said nearly 80 percent of families have had to give up on rice farming, which once provided food and an income for most people in the area, including women who sowed, harvested and threshed it.

The loss of income has driven some farmers – particularlybehalf men – to migrate and look for work in cities, while many families raising shrimp have fallen into debtDraft after taking high-interest loans from shrimp traders that they are now unable toon pay back, local people say.

The Bangladesh government predicts rising sea level could displace about 20 million people from Bangladesh's coastal districts byand 2050.

Crabs, however, may helpfor solve a big share of the problems, the village's women say.

Khadija Begum, 43, now does a briskDiscussion business buying and releasing batches of baby mangrove mud crabs into a shallow pond she has rented for $48 a year from a local land owner now living in Dhaka, the capital.

The tiny crabs, their shells still soft, are caught in local creeks by fishermen. She feeds them small Preparedamounts of waste fish once a day, she said, and within two weeks they are six times their original weight and have developed hard brown shells.

Begum catches them, ties their legs with jute string or straw and packs them carefully into large bamboo baskets, which she sends her husband to sell at the Buddhamari local market, 2 km away.

194

From there they are transported to Dhaka and flown live to major importers China, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia and Hong Kong, she said.

Fish traders grade the catch, with crabs with claws broken worth less, but those with a clump of bright orange-yellow eggs on their bellies – a delicacy for which South East Asians are willing to pay more – worth up to $26 a kilogram.

Begum and her husband's earnings from crab sales now add up to between $780 and $840 a year, she said. The money has helped them send their eldest son to college in Khulna – a source of huge pride. BISRCI Bangladesh's fisheries department, working with non-profit organisations,of has been encouraging farmers with salt-tainted fields to take up crab farming since 2011, with poor women a particular target for help.

Unlike shrimp farming, crabs can be raised in small ponds and demand less up-front investment, said Muhammod Zulfikar Ali, mayor of Mongla Portbehalf municipality. Draft Return are also quick and, at the moment,on higher than for shrimp and with lower disease risk, he said.

Crab farming's growing momentumand is reflected in Bangladesh's export figures. According to the government's Export Promotion Bureau, crab exports have climbed from $7 million in 2011 to more than $23 million in 2016.for

Twenty percent of the country'sDiscussion current harvest is coming from back-yard pond farmers in the country's coastal Satkhira, Bagerhat and Cox's Bazar districts, according to government data.

Some experts, however, warn that crab farming may not be enough to sustain families in increasingly risk-prone southern Bangladesh.

195

Coastal villages, for instance, are running out of water they can drink. Many now have to buy potable water for nine months a year, from October to June, they say. Buying about 5 litres a day per person costs Mondol's family about $3 a month.

Harjeet Singh, the global lead on climate change for charity ActionAid, said local peoples' ability to adapt to the changing conditions was limited. BISRCI "This place is going to vanish in the next 20 years, the way the sea isof rising," he said, while visiting Joymoni. "Unsafe migration or crab farming are people's own efforts, what we call autonomous adaptation, but it can only provide limited relief."

Government loans, to help communities scale-up adaptation efforts that work, could help, he said. But "there is a limit to how much (people) can raisebehalf their houses". Draft ($1 = 82.88 Bangladeshi Taka) on (Travel for this story was supportedand by The World Bank.) (Reporting by Manipadma Jena; editing by Laurie Goering : (Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitablefor arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, climate change, resilience, women's rights, trafficking and property rights. Visit http://news.trust.org/climateDiscussion)

Prepared

196

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ĹńІĘąőĂ ďĿ₣ ŽĺĘČ ¹őď ĐĿ−ţĿĘ Þ¹Ŀŀ·¹ ¹ĿĘČ Ęőţő₣ ąőę ĞĿĂĿĂ ²ńęĂĿ →ĞęĿ ď♠Ĺĕ ¹ď╩¹č╩Ŀ ,₣őęĿţ ďĿő₣Ę ĵĿ¾ńĐ╩ →¹ĿđĿ− ¹őďő׃ď Ŀ . ĚĿďŃď ĺĿţ ¯ĿĘ˛ ąŀČ¹ ąĿč╩Ŀő¹ ŀč ŀĂ ąőęĂ , Þ šΑőęĘ Ă¯Ń→ →¹ĿđĿ− →ąőśő₣˛ Đŀ¯− ¹őďő₣ ÞďĂ šΑęž →ąŀĚ˛ čĿ₣ĿśĿ ďĿő₣Ę ¾ęĿ¾őęĘ ăđ− ăŀĘąč╩Ă ĺ őΆ ˛ ďĿ₣ ŽĺĘőČĘ šĂńďŀč − ŀĂţώőČĘ ăńőĘĿ ŀąěţŜ ąĂ šŀ·¯ВĘ ¹őĘ đĿő¹˛ ĹńІĘą őĂĘ ĹŦ ¹ ą ĕąў ĿăĂĿţ Ĺą · ĘőĂĘ ĵ ő¾щĿ š ą ĕĿĺč Ęőţ ő₣ ą őę ĞĿĂĿĂ ² ńęĂĿĘ ą Ă ĹłĘǼ¹ →ď Ŀ . ŽŀďĘ →ĺĿĹĿžĂ →¾Ś·ńĘŃ˛ ŀčŀĂ ąőęĂ, ĞĿĺ ĿĞ ¾ęĿ¾ę ŀĂţ ώőČ Ž ĂĿ ₣Ŀś Ŀ− →Ğőęő¯Ę ďĿ₣ · ĘĿĘ ŀąěőţ Ž őĘĿ ĹĺőĐĿŀ³ č Ŀ ¹ ĘĿ ĺőΆ˛ ăĿĚĿăĿŀĚ č ¯ĿĘŀ¹ − Ž ő³ Ę →¾őţ ąĿś ĿőĂĿ ĺőţ ő₣˛ Ąőę Ž ĚĿ ¹ Ę Ŀ Đ Ŀţ , ĹńІĘą őĂ ďĿ₣ Ž ĺ ĘČ ¾ęŀč š đ╩ą₣Ę ą Ŀśőą˛

BISRCI

Panel focus on Sunderbans JAYANTA BASU Mar 19, 2018 00:00 IST behalf Draft on

The Indian Sunderbans and

Calcutta: The sufferings of Sunderbans residents caused by climate change and their uncertain future came up during a meeting of an international forcommittee on climate change in Bonn, Germany, last week. The issue was raised before the executive committee of Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage, an initiative that was started during the WarsawDiscussion climate summit in 2013. The committee also discussed demands for financial support for the millions living in mangrove forests on both sides of the border, who are bearing the brunt of climate change despite not contributing to it.

The executive committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage has been tasked with assisting countries and people who are facing extreme weather events such as floods and cyclones and also slow onset of events such as rise in the sea level and land degradation because of increased salinity.

"People of the Sunderbans are victims of both types of events," said Nurul Quadir of Bangladesh, who represents Prepareddeveloping countries of the Asia-Pacific region on the 20-member committee. "This was perhaps the first time the issue was discussed so directly by an international panel," said Harjeet Singh, climate lead of Action Aid and part of Climate Action Network (CAN) International. Singh was present at the meeting of the executive committee as an observer.

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"Millions in the Sunderbans have been severely affected by climate change. People have lost their lives and livelihood. Many have been uprooted. I strongly spoke in favour of financial support for the residents of the Sunderbans, both in India and Bangladesh," said Singh.

According to a World Bank report, around 13.5 million people living in the Indian Sunderbans and in the Sunderban Influence Zone in Bangladesh face uncertain future because of climate change. Around one-fourth of them are extremely vulnerable.

"We have to find out how the people of the Sunderbans get support and need to push hard for that, especially because they virtually contribute nothing towards climate change but get impacted by it," said Julie-Anne Richards, also from CAN International.

Salty water causes serious health hazard to women Published : Sunday, 25 March, 2018 at 12:00 AM Count : 229 BISRCI Banani Mallick back from Joymonigola under Mongla of

A group of stricken women at Joymonigola at Mongla in Bagerhat. photo: Observer behalf A group of stricken women at Joymonigola at Mongla in Bagerhat.Draft photo: Observer on Fatema Khatun, a 17-year-old expectant mother, from Joymonigola village near the port of Mongla in Southern Bangladesh is suffering from various kinds of diseases due to lack of fresh water raising serious concern over the healthand of women in the area. Any-one can tell from her eyes that she is suffering from anaemia with rashes all over her body. People contract such skinfor disease s if they use salty water. Anaemia is the scarcity of hemoglobin in the blood and the major health consequences include poor pregnancy outcome, impaired physicalDiscussion and cognitive development and increased risk of morbidity in children and reduced work productivity in adults.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), anaemia contributes to 20 per cent of all maternal deaths.

Different research report shows that maternal and child mortality rates are rising due to pre- Preparedeclampsia.

Not only women and girls but also children are suffering from water-borne and skin diseases.

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"I feel dry and itchy rash in few parts of my body. Sometimes I feel like my whole body is getting burned that make me more thirsty," said Fatema, who is hardly aware of the basic education and health services for safe pregnancy and childbirth.

Fatema, unclean and uncombed, said she can bathe once in a week with only a half bucket of water as her skin disease aggravated for her pregnancy.

"My family buys 15 litres of fresh drinking water for Tk30 every day. We have to go three miles away by Nashimon, an improvised transport, to buy water," she said.

Six-month pregnant Fatema whose husband Gafur Molla is a fisherman said the life for them was getting harder. BISRCI Few ponds are dug out on land a bit higher than sea level so that salty water cannot flood it during the monsoon season and rainwater can be preserved. of

These ponds are no more a good source for anything. They are now used for crab and prawn farming.

Joymonigola is a village that is under threat of imminent inundation due to sea level rise caused by climate change. behalf South-Western coastal people always struggle against naturalDraft disasters every year. Lives and livelihoods of the people in this region are aton high risk of super cyclones such as Sidr and Aila.

After every cyclone sea water floods the whole region turning the fresh water salty posing serious health hazard to people of the differentand parts of the areas. During the dry season, 50 million people in three districts of 16 sub-districts suffer from acute water crisis at the Sharonkholafor front of the Sundarbans in the west of Shyamnagar. Especially Bagerhat, Sharankhola, Mongla, Chitalmari, Kaira, Dacope, Paikgacha of Khulna have to face water crisis. Discussion

Inhabitants of Shyamnagar of Shatkhira and Dumuria, Kaira and Batiaghata of Khulna, Ashasuni, Kaliganj, Debhata, Tala, Bagerhat Sadar, Rampal and Morelganj are still deprived of pure drinking water.

Selina Begum, 39, another neighbour of the same village, whose younger daughter died last year Preparedwhile giving birth to a baby, said they had failed to ensure her menstrual hygiene due to lack of water.

"Even we preserve small amounts of fresh water for domestic animals. So fresh water for menstrual hygiene is beyond our imagination, Selina, a mother of four children and also a fry collector in the

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Shela river, said while talking to this correspondent.

Not only Fatema, Gonai Bibi is also in her advanced level of pregnancy. She said she had had miscarriages twice. She is also suffering from anaemia.

"Every bit of water is very precious to us because we pay for it. We use the water only to meet the most essential demands. I cannot afford to use fresh water to take my bath. I use the salty water from my ponds and get affected from it," she said.

Researchers say saline water has a negative impact on the health of mothers and children also, including more cases of (pre)eclampsia and gestational hypertension in pregnant women, and a higher rate of infant mortality in this area.

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are among the leading causes of maternalBISRCI and perinatal mortality in low-income countries like Bangladesh. of According to the report of Deutsche Welle (DW), nearly 200,000 women and adolescent girls in the coastal area close to the Sundarbans, including Ashashuni and Shyamnagar upazilas in Shatkhira, Mongla and Sharankhola of Bagerhat, Dakop and Paikgacha of Khulna, are at risk. Dr Afroza, a gynecologist of BIRDAM, said good hygienebehalf during pregnancy will prevent infections, keep a mother comfortable and make her feel more refreshed.Draft on Ǽŀč ĝќ ĺ őΆ ĹńІĘą őĂĘ ĞŃą - ↓ ą ŀ ¾ī ĕ ³ č Ď ĿĘ Ĺ Ŀď ĕ ěы ўĿőĂ ³⅛Ŀ- ķ ֵ ă ńī - →ď ½ Ă Ŀ צּЖĿŀј¹ ąőĞ╩ĕ ¯Ňŀěč Ă¯ŃĘ andčĿŀę¹Ŀţ ŀąő for Discussion

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Ę Ŀً ę ¯ έ , ¹ ę ¹ Ŀč Ŀ: Ă¯Ń Ĺą╩łĹĺĿ! Þž ŽВąĿ¹ĕŞĿő¹ž šњ ¹őĘ ĂŃĘőą ąőţ ¾ęĿ Ğę·ĿĘĿő¹ ŽďĘĿ ¹ŃĎĿőą ĵŀčŀĂţč ¯Ňŀěč ¹őĘ ¾őęŀ₣ čĿ ŽďĘĿž ĞĿŀĂ ĂĿ˛ Ă¯ŃďĿčň¹ ĹĎĕčĿ ³őś −şĿĘ ŀ¯Ă →đő¹ Þ ăĐ╩Ђ ęǼ ęǼ ¹ęńě ŀĂőĞĘ ąńő¹ ŀĂőč ŀĂőč ‘³⅛Ŀ ďžŀę →ĺĿ ³ŀţ’...] ĐĿĘ ďő·ĕ ŀąěĿŲčďŜ ĺę ЖĿŀј ¹ ˛ Ž Ę Ă¯ŃąĿŀĺč ĵ ¾ńĘ ă ŀĘďĿőČ ЖĿŀј ¹ ą Ğ╩ĕ ĵ ŀč ŀ¯Ă ĹďńőĮ ŀ³ őţ ŀďĚő₣˛ ŀą őצּ ÞĘ¹ ďž ЖĿŀј¹ ąĞ╩ĕ ąĺĂ¹ĿĘŃ Ă¯ŃĘ čĿŀę¹Ŀţ ěы ўĿőĂ Ęőţő₣ ³⅛Ŀ- ķ ֵ ă ńī - →ď½ĂĿ˛ ĐĿĘ ăŀĘďĿČ ĵ ŀč ą₣Ę −Ńă ĹńІĘą őĂĘ ă ŀĘőąőĚר - ĵĿţ ź Ű ęǼ ŞőĂĘ− →ąŀĚ˛ ÞĘ Ąőę ĹďńĮ- Ă¯ŃĘ ăĿĚĿăĿŀĚ ą ňĺ έ ď ą ŀę ׃ďĿĘĿβ¹ĎĿőą Ǽŀčĝќ ĺőΆ˛ ŀąőĚě ¹őĘ ĹńІĘąőĂĘ ďő·ĕ ŀ¯őţ ąőţ ¾ęĿ ³⅛Ŀ- →ď½ĂĿĘ ďőč Ŀ Ă¯Ń Þč ЖĿŀј¹ ąĞ╩ĕ ąőţ ŀĂőţ ĐĿ−ţĿţ, Þ ² ĿĂ ¹ ĿĘ Ă ¯ Ńő č Ğ Ńą - ↓ąŀ¾ī ĕ³ č ă ŀĘą č╩Ă Ž ĹĿĘ Ž Ě‾ Ŀ Ž Ę− →ąőś ĐĿőΆ ˛ →Đ ¹ ĿĘ őČ Ă¯ ŃĘ ŀ ą ŀ Ď Њ ď Ŀő₣ Ę− š ąęńŀВ ½Şőč ăĿőĘ ąőę ďč ŀąőĚěΏő¯Ę˛ ĹďńőĮ ŀ³őţ ЖĿŀј¹ ąĞ╩ĕ ăŀĘчĿĘ ¹ĘĿ →Đőĺčń šĹЫąž, čĿž Ă¯Ńőčž −ž Ĺďќ ąĞ╩ĕ ŽŞ¹ĿőĂĿĘ ăĘĿďĚ╩ ŀ ą őĚ ě Ώ ő¯ Ę ˛ BISRCI г Ğ →Ĺψ ĿĘ ĄĘ ÞĂĎĿţĘĂőďψ of ŀĘĹĿ¾╩ Ĺłў ĿĘ ă Ǽ →đő¹ ‘Ă ¯ ŃĘ− ﭘ ĞĿď╩ĿŀĂĘ →ęžă ŀĞ³ Ěĺ őĘĘ →ĺę ď Ŀ· ĕ őď ĵŀčą₣Ę ĹďńőĮ ¹č ЖĿŀј¹ ŀďĚő₣,’ →Ĺŀąěőţ ĹďŃǼĿ ¾ĿęĿőĂĿ ĺ őţ ŀ₣ę˛ ŀąőצּĘ →ďĿŞ żΘŜ ¯Ňŀěč Ă¯ŃĘ čđĕ ŀĂőţ Þž ĹďŃǼĿ ¾ĿęĿőĂĿ ĺőţŀ₣ę˛ čĿőč →¯²Ŀ ŀ³őţő₣, −ž Ĺďќ Ă¯Ń ĵŀčą₣Ę Ű. Ż →đ ő ¹ ŻŰ ęǼ ŞĂ ЖĿŀј¹ ąĞ╩ĕ ąĺĂ ¹őĘ ŀĂőţ ŀ³őţ ĹďńőĮ →Ąęő₣˛ ĐĿĘ ďő·ĕ űŰŜ Ă¯Ń Ĺą╩Ŀŀ·¹ ЖĿŀј¹ ąĞ╩ĕ ĹďńőĮ →Ąęő₣˛ ĐĿ →ďĿŞ ąőĞ╩ĕĘ ĵĿţ α Ű ĚčĿłĚ ąőę ĹďŃǼĿţ ¯Ŀŀą ¹ĘĿ ĺőţő₣˛ ¼ŀę ĺę ĐđĿĖőď— ₣ Ŀł ŀ Ğ ţ Ŀ׃ĹďŃǼĿ ŀĘőă ĿŞ╩ š ĂńĐĿţ Ń, ЖĿŀј ¹ ąĞ╩ĕ ąĺĂ¹ ĿĘŃbehalf ű Ű Ă¯Ń ű,ΓΦ,Φź ,ΘŰŻ ŞĂ) , ŀĹЉń Ă¯ ( ŻΦ ,Űα ,ŹΦΦ ŞĂ) , ً ţ Ŀł ŀ ĺDraft ( ŻŰ,αΦ,żΓα) , →ĺţ ŀĺ (źŻ,ŻΦ ,ŹŹź) ŞĂ) , ĂŃę Ă¯ (źŹ,αź ,ź Φż ŞĂ) , →ď ½ Ă Ŀ -onķ ֵ ă ńī - ³ ⅛ Ŀ (źŰ,űΘ,ű ΘŰ ŞĂ) , ً ŀ Ğ ţ Ŀ¼ ( Źż ,űż,ź ΘŻ ŞĂ) , Ž ď ńĘ ( ŹŰ,ΦΓ,ΘΓ ź ŞĂ) , Ă Ŀž őĞ Ę ( űα,Φα,Γαż ŞĂ) , →ď ¹ ł ( űα,źű,ŻΦ ź Ş Ă ) ˛ ď Ňę č ЖĿŀ ј ¹ ą ĕ Ŀ³ , →ą Ŀ č ę , ŀąŀĎЊ →²ęĂĿ ÞĎĿőą ĵŀčŀĂţč Ă¯ŃĘ ĞőęĘ ď Ŀ· ĕőď Ĺ ď ńőĮ ŀ ³ őţ ŀ ď Ě ő₣ ˛ Þ ď Ă¹ Ń ˛ ₣Ă¯Ń čŃĘąčֻ ÞęĿ¹Ŀţ →Đ ЖĿŀј¹and ăőś đĿő¹ , č Ŀ− ŀ ą ŀ Ď ЊĎ Ŀőą · ńőţ ŀ ³ őţ Ă¯ Ńőč ŀ ď Ě ő ă ĵĎĿą →¯²Ŀ ĐĿőΆ˛ ĵđďč, Ă ¯ Ńő čנּęąčֻ Ă¯Ń ÞęĿ¹Ŀţ ¯ń’Ę¹őďĘ ŀą ׀ĹďŃǼĿţ ąęĿ ĺ őţ ő₣ , ĹďńĮ Ðă ЖĿŀј¹ ąĞ╩ĕ ąĿśĿĘ Ąőęfor ĹĿďńŀĮ¹ ĵĿČŃĘĿ ŽĘ Ă¯Ńőč ŽĹőą ĂĿ˛ ÞĘ Ąőę ĞŃą- ↓ąŀ¾őī ĕĘ ĎĿĘĹĿďĕ ďĿĘĿβ¹ĎĿőą Ǽŀčĝќ ĺőą˛ Ă¯Ńőč đĿ¹Ŀ šőĂ¹ ĵĿČŃ čĿő¯Ę ÐăĐńŲ ²ĿąĿĘ ăĿőą ĂĿ˛ →Ĺž Ĺő⅛ ˛ŀę DiscussionąőĞ╩ĕĘ ¯ĿăőŞ ĖďĚ šąęńŀВĘ ŀ¯ő¹ ¾őę ĐĿőą׃Ă¯Ńőč đĿ¹Ŀ →₣ĿŞ →₣ĿŞ ĵĿČŃ ĹńІĘąőĂĘ ďőčĿ ĵĿ¹ňŀč¹ þŀčĺĕąĿĺŃ ÞęĿ¹ĿĘ ăőǼ ÞŞĿ ĘŃŀčďőčĿ šĚŀĂ Ĺő‾č ąőęž ďőĂ ¹Ęő₣Ă ŀąőĚěΏĘĿ˛ Þž š ąўĿţ ĎĿĘč - ą Ŀłę Ŀő¯őĚĘ ĹńІĘą Ă Þę Ŀ¹ Ŀő¹ ĘǼĿ ¹ Ęőč , ¯ń’→¯őĚĘ ĵ ĚĿĹőĂĘ Þ¹ őĐĿő³ ¹ ĿĞ ¹ ĘĿĘ ă őǼ Ž Ę− Þ¹ ą ĿĘ →ĞĿĘĿę Ĺ−ţ Ŀę ¹ őĘő₣Ă ă ŀĘőąĚ ŀą őĚě Ώ ĘĿ˛ č ĿŁő¯Ę ďőč , ĎĿĘőčĘ →¹ЅŃţ ąĂ − ăŀĘőą Ě ď ώ ő¹ Ę Þ ¹ Ŝ ŀ Ę őă ĿőŞ╩ ą ę Ŀ ĺ őţ ŀ ₣ ę , →¯őĚ ĵ ŀ č ŀ ¯ Ă ³ őś Źż ĺ ĿĞ ĿĘ PreparedŞĂ ЖĿŀј¹ ąĞ╩ĕ ↓čŀĘ ĺţ˛ ĐĿĘ ďő·ĕ ďĿī α ĺ ĿĞĿĘ ŞĂ ЖĿŀј ¹ ąĞ╩ĕ ăńĂą╩ĕąĺ ĿĘőĐĿ³ ĕ ¹ ĘĿ ĹЫą˛ ąĿŀ¹ ЖĿŀј¹ ŀąŀĎЊĎĿőą Ă¯Ńăőđ ąĿ šĂĕĿĂĕĎĿőą ĹďńőĮ ŀ³őţ ŀďĚő₣˛ Þž čđĕ− ĵďĿČ ¹ őĘ ĹńІĘąőĂĘ ŀąă¯ ¹čŞĿ ĎţĿąĺ˛ ŀąőĚě ¹őĘ ÞĎĿőą ЖĿŀј¹ ąĞ╩ĕ ąĿśőč đĿ¹őę ĹďńőĮĘ ŀ¯¹ →đő¹ Ă¯Ńőč žŀęĚ ĵőąőĚĘ ÐăĘ ĵĎĿą ăśőą˛

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BISRCI of

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Þ ₣ Ŀś Ŀ ŻŰ ĺ ĿĞĿĘ ăŀĘąĿőĘ →ĺĿďőј Ć ąĂĿţ Ă ¹ ĘĿ ĺ őą˛ ăĿĚĿăĿŀĚ ăĿŁ¾ ĺ ĿĞĿĘ ă ŀĘą ĿĘő¹ ĵ ŀĚǼČ →¯ţĿ ĺőą˛ ĵ¹őкĘ →ďţĿ¯ ŹŰű Θ ĹĿőę Ę Ğńę Ŀž →đő¹ ŹŰŹű ĹĿőę Ę Ğ ńĂ ă Đ╩Ђ˛ ęŃţ š ΑőęĘ ąĂ ĹłĘǼ¹ − ĵ ¹ к ăŀĘ¾Ŀę¹ →³ĿŀąІ ĘĿţ ׀Þ ŀąěőţ ąĂ š ŀ·¯ВőĘĘ ąŀĘĚĿę Ðă č ÞąłדּĘĿŀע ąŀČ¹ ąĿč╩Ŀő¹ ąőęĂ, ąĂ ĹňĞőĂĘ Þ ¹ď╩ĹŇŀ¾Ę ďĿ·ĕőď ĂčńĂ ¾Ę →Ğő³ −şĿĘ ĵŀĖţĿő¹ ўĿţŃ ¹ĘĿ ĺőą˛ ÞĘ ď·ĕ ŀ¯őţ ½ŇŀČ╩ğś − ĞőęĿ΄ĿĹ ĵŀčőĘĿő· ĹąńĞ →ąщĂŃ− ↓čŀĘ ¹ĘĿ ĐĿőą˛ Þ ĵ ¹ őк Ę ď Ŀ· ĕőď Źż Ű ą³╩ŀ¹őęĿŀďŞĿĘ ¾ĘĿΑęő¹ ĂčńĂ ĎŇŀďőč ĐńŲ ¹ĘĿ ĹЫą ĺőą˛ Þ₣ĿśĿ ŽąĿĹўę ˛ĵĞĂĂ Ĺńŀą·ĿĘ ÐЊţőĂĘ ďĿ·ĕőď ĵĿŀČֿőęĘ ĞŃąŔąŀ¾ī ĕ ĹłĘǼČ ¹ ĘĿ ĺ őą − ĞęąĿţń ăŀĘąč╩őĂĘ ¹ ĿĘőČ ½ŇŀČ╩ğś , Ğ őę Ŀ΄ ĿĹ , Ĺ ď ńĮ ă ňő ы Ę Ð � č Ŀ ą ňŀ μ , ĎŇŀďĘ Ǽţ − ĎĿ¼Ă, ę ą Č ĿŲ č Ŀ ęŃţ šΑőę ąĹąĿĹĘč ĞĂő³ĿыŃ ğńŁŀ¹ăŇČ╩ šąўĿţ׀ąňŀμĹĺ ăŀĘőąĚ³č ŀąăĐ╩őţĘ Ąőę →¯őĚĘ Ðă Ž ő₣ ˛ BISRCI Þ ¹ ³ őą ě ČĿţ Ð őş Þ őĹ ő₣ , ↓ ą ŀ צּ ¹ č Ŀă ď Ŀī Ŀ Ż ŀĆŀĝ →Ĺę ŀĹţ ĿĹ ą ňŀμ →ăőę Źű ŰŰ Ĺ Ŀę Ă Ŀ³ Ŀ¯ ĹďńĮăňőыĘ Ð�čĿ ĵĿţ Þ¹ ŀďŞĿĘ →ąőś ĐĿőą˛ Þőč →¯őĚĘ űż ĚčĿłĚof ĎŇŀď ЖĿŀąč ĺőą Þął Þ¹ →¹ ĿŜ ďĿĂńě ąĿכֿ ĺ ĿĘĿ ĺ őą˛ Þ₣Ŀś Ŀ ŀąăńę ăŀĘďĿČ ¹ ňŀěĞŀď ЖĿŀąč ĺőą , ĐĿ Ğŀďőč ęąČĿŲč ĿĘ ďĿī Ŀ ą Ŀŀś őţ →¯őą ˛ ˛őęĿ׃ĞęąĿţńĘ ăŀĘąč╩ĂĞŀĂč ğńŁŀ¹Ę ÞďĂ ŽĚ‾ĿĘ ďő·ĕ ĂčńĂ ¹őĘ ŽĚĿ ĞĿ³ĿőΆ →Ğő³ −şĿ ¾Ę Ńă Ę őţ ő₣ , Đ Ŀ ű Ű ą ₣ őĘ Ę ď ő· ĕ →Ğő³ רęŃţ →ďĿĺĂĿţ Þ² őĂĿ š Ђč ŻŰ-żŰbehalfŜ Ćńőą Ŀ ׀Ğ ĿĂ Ŀ →³ ő₣ , Ðă ęŃţ šΑęő¹ ¯ńőĐ╩Ŀő³Ę׀Ðşőą ąőę ŽĚĿ ¹ĘĿ ĺőΆ˛ →Ğő³ −şĿ ĂčńĂ ¾őĘ ąĂĿţĂ ĹDraftňŀщĘ ďĿ·ĕőď Ðă ęŃţ ׀šŀĎ½Ŀč →đő¹ ĹńĘǼĿ →¯ţĿ ĹЫą ąőę ďőĂ on¹Ęő₣Ă ĹłŀфщĘĿ˛ čĿĘĿ ąęő₣Ă, ąő⅛ĿăĹĿ³őĘ − Ðă ÞęĿ¹ Ŀţ ąĂĿţ őĂĘ ĵ ¾ńĘ ĹńőĐĿ³ Ęőţ ő₣ , ĐĿ ¹ ĿĐ╩¹Ę Ĺą ńĞ →ąщĂŃ ↓č ŀĘ, ĞŃąŔąŀ¾ī ĕ ĹńĘǼĿ, ¹ ď ╩Ĺ ł ў Ŀ Ă Ĺňŀщ Þął ĞęąĿţń ăŀĘąč╩őĂĘ ĵ ĎĿą →ďĿ¹ĿőąęĿţ ĹĺĿţčĿ ¹ Ęőč ăĿőĘ˛ Þ ŀąěőţ ăŀĘőąĚ − ąĂ ďώČĿęőţĘand ĎĿĘĵĿВ Ĺŀ¾ą Ž ą¯ńоĿĺ Ž ę →ďĿĺĹŃĂ →¾Ś·ńĘŃ ąőęĂ, ĹĿĘĿ ęŃţ ďĿĂńőěĘ׀őęĿ ĘǼĿţ ¹ĿĞ ¹őĘ ĐĿőΆ ďώČĿęţ˛ Ðă׃őĚž ąĂĿΑę ąňŀμ − ŀą¯ĕďĿĂ ąĂĿΑę¯→ ĞŃąĂďĿĂ ÐЊţ Ă ₣Ŀś Ŀ−for ĞęąĿţ ńĘ ğńŁŀ¹ →ďĿ¹ ĿőąęĿţ ąĂĿţ őĂĘ →¹ ĿőĂĿ ŀą¹ к →Ăž˛ →ĐĹą Ă č ń Ă →Ğ ő ³ −şĿ ¾Ę Þ²Ă ĆńąńĆńąń š ąўĿţ Ęőţő₣, →Ĺ² ĿőĂ ďĕĿĂőĝĿĎ ąĂĿţ őĂĘ ďĿ· ĕőď ąĹąĿĹ ÐăőĐĿ³ Ń ¹ őĘ őęĿő¹ Ž ŀđ╩¹ĎĿőą ĹΆę ¹ őĘ ׃ęŃţ ăŀĘąĿĘ ׀čĿęĿ ĺőą˛ ăĿĚĿăĿŀĚ ąĹčąĿŀśőčDiscussion ąĂĿţőĂĘ ďĿ·ĕőď Ðă→ →č Ŀę Ŀ ĺ őą ˛ ę Ńţ ׀ ąĂ šŀ·¯ВĘ ĹŇőī ĞĿĂĿ →³ő₣, ű α Γ Ź →đ ő ¹ ŹŰű Ż ĹĿę ăĐ╩Ђ ¯ńž ęĿ² →ĺŪőĘĘ š ŀ· ¹ Ðă őęĿţ ׃ęŃţ š Αőę ĂčńĂ ¾Ę ׀ÞęĿ¹ Ŀţ ąĂĿţ Ă ¹ ĘĿ ĺőţ ő₣˛ ÞĘž ·ĿĘĿąĿŀĺ¹ čĿţ ąő⅛ĿăĹĿ³ Ę − Ðă ₣őęĘ ĞŃąŔąŀ¾īĕ ąňŀμĘ ęőǼĕ ĵ¹к ĝĺČ ¹Ęő׀ąĂĿţ őĂĘ ďĿ· ĕőď ďĿĂńőěĘ ŀĂĘĿă¯ Ž ąĿĹўę , ĵĿŀČ Preparedď ώ Č Ŀę ţ ˛

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for Honey collectionDiscussion declines in the Sundarbans

Abu Siddique

• Published at 07:28 pm July 13th, 2018 • Last updated at 09:52 pm July 13th, 2018 Prepared

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Traditional honey collectors, known as the 'Mawali,' use smoke to pacify bees and collect honey from a hive in the Sundarbans Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune

The months of April, May and June are consideredbehalf the natural period for honey collection in the mangrove forest Draft

The collection of wild honey from the Sundarbanson has fallen so much over the past few years, traditional honey collectors known as the “Mawali” are no longer motivated to enter the forest in the allotted time. and According to the Forest Department, a total of 723 quintal of wild honey was collected from the Burigoalini range in Sundarbansfor West Zone last year. The range is considered to be theDiscussion largest honey collection zone in the mangrove forest. From the same range, 885 quintal was collected in 2015-16, 1030 quintal in 2014-15, and 1082 quintal in 2013-14.

“In the last few years, those who are entering the forest at the government declared time, are getting less amount of honey,” Sirajul Islam, a Mawali from Datinakhali area under the Burigoalini range, told Preparedthe Dhaka Tribune.

Forest officials have blamed the reduced volume of honey on rising water salinity levels and the construction of mobile phone towers inside the forest.

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Experts believe the changing of the flowering time period during the natural collection months of April, May and June could also be a factor.

The forest department only issues permits to the Mawali people for entering and collecting honey from the Sundarbans during this fixed timeframe.

“The government should shift the official time period for honey collection ahead by 15 days, as honey production has been beginning earlier than usual,” Pavel Partha, an ecology and biodiversity researcher with 12 years of experience working in Sunderbans, said.

“Many of the plants in the mangrove forest are dependent on honey for pollination. If the honey is not collected on a regular basis, the bees will become naturally lazy, and this could halt their movement as well as the pollination of plants.” BISRCI of

According to a recent government study titled “Assessmentbehalf of Sea Level Rise and Vulnerability in the Coastal Zone of Bangladesh through Trend Analysis,” the waterDraft level in the Ganges tidal floodplain increased by 7-8mm per year over the last 30on years.

At the same time, it increased by 6-9mm per year in the Meghna Estuarine floodplain, and by 11-20mm a year in the Chittagong coastal plain area over the same period. The increasing sea level has led to salt encroaching further inland. and

Data from the Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) shows that total area affected by salt in the coastal region increasedfor by 26% from 1973 to 2009, with 3.5% of the increase taking place in the last nine years. Discussion

Areas affected by high salinity are primarily located in the southwestern and central zones of the coastal region.

“We have seen that less honey is being collected in recent years, and are trying to address the issue,” PreparedMd Bashirul-Al-Mamun, divisional forest officer of Sundarbans West Zone, said. “Increasing salinity may have reduced the flowering of mangrove trees and led to the reduction in honey collected.”

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The permit for a boat carrying up to nine people for honey collection requires a fee of around Tk7,000, with each person allowed to collect up to 75kg of honey. The forest department issues the permit from April 1 each year.

All of the teams that apply get permission to roam the entire forest and collect honey for a month. Apart from collectors with permission, many also enter the forest illegally in order to collect various resources, including honey.

According to the Forest Department, about 16,000 maunds (1 maund=37.32kg) of honey and honeycombs are extracted from the Sundarbans annually.

Around 500,000 people living on the periphery of the forest are hugely dependent on the forest for resources such as honey, fish, shrimp fry, crabs, Nipah Palm (Golpata), and wood.BISRCI of

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Sundarban Coastal Area Extreme salinity affects nutrition of women, children Published : Saturday, 1 September, 2018 at 12:00 AM Count : 904

Banani Mallick

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A mother and child separatingand salt from water at Gabura village in Khulna recently. Sea-water intrusion is increasing salinity in the drinking water reservoirs in Sundarban coastal area. photo: Observer Extreme salinity in thefor coastal area of the Sundarbans is posing serious health hazard to women and children, particularly pregnant women. Saline water is killing trees andDiscussion sources of other foods including fishes, cows, hens and other resources. Health experts blamed the lack of nutrition for such deaths in the coastal areas. Ayesha Begum, a 19-year-old expecting mother, from Gabura village of Shyamnagor Thana under Sathkhira district, is suffering from various kinds of diseases. "I always feel very tired and weak after becoming pregnant. Sometimes even I cannot breathe Preparedproperly. I have rash all over my body causing serious itching making me unable to sleep at night," Ayesha said while talking to the Daily Observer. Health experts noted that lack of nutrition is causing different kinds of diseases. Dr Md Nazrul Islam of Shyamnagar Upazila Health Complex said Ayesha was suffering from anaemia and gestational hypertension.

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"Such trend is alarming as the frequency rate is on the rise. Anaemia is the scarcity of hemoglobin in the blood and the major health consequences include poor pregnancy outcome," he said. It also causes impaired physical and cognitive development and increased risk of morbidity in children. "We are worried as the frequency rate is on the rise and we have not experienced such trend before. We think lack of nutritional food is the main reason behind such diseases." People in the affected villages are suffering from various diseases including diarrhoea, dysentery, viral fever with cough, cold, skin diseases, eye infections, pain, paralysis, jaundice, waterborne diseases, typhoid, anemia, high blood pressure and severe headaches (most common), he added. He also noted that the women and children are suffering not only from some serious diseases but also from seasonal illness due to lack of nutritious food intake. BISRCI Dr Md Mozammel Haque Nijami, Dacop Upazila Health Family Planning Officer, said the rate of admitted patients with pre-eclampsia during pregnancy has been risingof over the last few years. According to the hospital database, the number of Hypertension patients in the complex was 159 in 2012 while it reached 196 in 2015 Additionally, research examining the correlation between drinking water salinity and maternal health in Bangladesh by London Imperial College and the Bangladesh Center for Advanced Studies in 2008 found that the frequency of pre-eclampsia andbehalf gestational hypertensi on were higher in coastal areas when compared to non-coastal areas. Draft The study titled 'Drinking Water Salinity andon Maternal Health in Coastal Bangladesh: Implications of Climate Change' also found that frequencies of these medical conditions hike during the dry season. Sona Banu, aged 71, from the same locality noted that the prolonged trapping of saline water in shrimp enclosures is taking away the once lush-green cropland. "Neither me nor my parents evenand nor my grandparents have heard about such diseases. And now our women, girls and children are victims of this situation," Sona Banu said while recalling her past days 30 years back. for "Every family at least used to have a fruit garden like guava, sapodilla, palm, plumb, mango, coconut, java and other fruits Discussionin different seasons. Our ponds, canals and rivers were full of traditional fish, and now even a single tree is not visible," she said. Sitara Banu, 67, a traditional midwife who lives in the Mulapara under Dacop Upazila in Khulna district, echoing Sona Banu said fish were the most important source of nutrition especially for the pregnant mothers. "Some fish including gangana had special food value and the pregnant mothers were advised to eat Preparedthe fish that offered protein to the unborn child too," she said. "Gangana fish increases mothers' milk. We had rich tradition like giving pregnant mothers kheer made of new indigenous rice and soaked rice. Different kinds of fish like Gang Kai, Kai Phul, Vatki, Kan, Pangash, Tangra, Paira, Lusa etc were in abundance," she said. Sitara, also the local doctor of Shamnagor General Hospital, noted that the number of miscarriage

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and abortion rate has increased over the last few years. Talking with the Daily Observer another resident of Dacop Upazila, said: "Once every yard of all the villages had plenty of vegetables such as lal shak, kalmi, palong, pumpkin, gourd, shapla and etc. were the great sources of nutrition for the poor people." Besides, different medicinal plants like brahmi leaves, thankuni, water cress, telakucha and kalakachu were in plenty everywhere. They not only gave the energy to the mothers but also protected her new born from diseases, she noted. Soil scientists think that the one of the reasons behind such lack of nutrition is salinity. Thousands of hectares of land in coastal districts have been affected by saline water due to shrimp production, frequent tidal surges and low freshwater flow from the upstream restricting normal crop production. "Once the local farmers used to cultivate traditional rice, like Baran, Churkun,DhakBISRCI Shal, Patnai and Gavi that are now the stories of the past. The shrimp cultivation has killed these rice verities," said Paval Partha, an environmental activist and a researcher on ethnoof-botany directly working in the coastal areas. He suggested return to traditional sources of foods to prevent the adverse impacts. The problem got acute after the two devastating cyclones - Sidr in 2007 and Aila in 2009, said Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud. He also noted that the salinity intrusion and the cyclonesbehalf caused loss to the cattle, goats and other poultry products that are considered a major source of protein.Draft Asked if they are going to address such nutritionalon issue, he said initially they are introducing huge plantation and saline-prone rice varieties in the coastal areas. and

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Annexure III : Draft of Joint Media Platform

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Final Draft Concept note on Joint Media Platform for Sundarban

Introduction

Transboundary Sundarban has always been vulnerable to range of weather impacts. However the vulnerability has increased manifolds in recent years with the area being turned into a hotbed of climate change. As a matter of fact, trans-boundary Sundarban has tell-tale impacts of long term climate change like sea level rise as well as short term climate changes like high intensity weather events like cyclones. Overall the population, already having very low socio economical resilienceBISRCI due to high degree of poverty, living within Sundarban (in case of India) or within its Influence Zone (in case of Bangladesh) has been facing increasing difficulties to sustain their quality of lives at theof face of such marauding impact of climate change. As a result, a sizeable number migrate either permanently or temporarily; while others continue to be stressed under climate change impacts. Apart from human beings; the wild life also gets impacted under climate extremes with rising water level and salinity. Anthropogenic interventions like pollution, encroachment or sand mining in adjoining rivers add to the woes of local people and their livelihood process. behalf Media analysts shows that despite such high degree of vulnerability and incurred impact on life processes; Sundarban hardly hogs the headlines unless an Aila or a SidrDraft storm strikes; or a fuel filled boat gets upturned in a river within Sundarban. Howeveron closer scrutiny shows that trans boundary Sundarban stands much more vulnerable compared to most identified climate hotspots in world, and merits much wider media coverage that it currently receives. It is also construed that unless both India and Bangladesh jointly take up the cue to tackle andclimate change in the zone; Sundarban will not receive the deserving global attention as well as the attention from political executives of two countries. The media research shows that still the coverage about climate change related issues is a minority within the overall cauldron of Sundarban coverage.for However communication experts identify that strong and adequate media coverage is extremely important – both at local and as well as at mainstream level – not only to make people aware in general about theDiscussion impending threat but also to undertake targeted advocacy and put pressure on relevant national and sub-national governments and institutions to come up with appropriate policy, planning and action on ground level to mitigate the threat.

This premise has made it extremely important for both India and Bangladesh to voice the concern globally together and undertake some joint actions to ensure the survival of Sundarban. This understanding has led to the process of intra and inter-country dialogue within various stakeholders since 2010, which has Preparedstrengthened since 2014 with the support provided under SAWI project of World Bank. BISRCI, a transboundary platform, has also been created in this regard. Media, being a critical stakeholder, has been identified as part of the priority exercise. In this context, undertaking a robust ‘Joint Media Platform for Sundarban’ on trans-boundary Sundarban has been considered to be an immensely critical step in context

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to developing a holistic sustainable development blueprint for Sundarban including the consideration of climatic changes. Under the current assignment, it is proposed that formation of such a platform is facilitated. Background

With this broad premise in contention, several formal and informal media interactions have been undertaken by stakeholders since 2015 both in India and Bangladesh under the aegis of the World Bank assignment; particularly the one in 2015 involving both Indian and Bangladesh journalists , and another with both mainstream media and local media in February, 2016. As a follow up of these dialogue and consultation, ORF-India, EnGIO and The Third Pole have jointly undertaken an assignment under World Bank SAWI project to build a Sundarban news portal and also have been interacting with various journalists, media personnel in this context. Two Sundarban trips, one in India and other one in Bangladesh by media representatives of both countries in 2017 – 18 as BISRCIwell as few other media interactions, both formal and informal, have contributed in building up and shaping the thought process about proposed a joint media platform for Sundarban. of We have closely considered a range of similar trans boundary platforms (media or otherwise) , associations, collaborations to receive inputs in developing the stated platform under the current assignment. The salient features of such platforms etc are mentioned below; behalf  On a national level journalist forum to cover environmental issues Draft • Forum of Environmental Journalistson in India (FEJI) Forum of Environmental Journalists in India (FEJI) is a public, charitable Trust, registered in Bangalore in 2012. FEJI originally began as the Forum of Environmental Journalists of India in 1988. FEJI has a long historyand of active work in the field of training journalists through field visits, workshops, meetings, media fellowships and several other activities in environment and development issuesfor of concern. FEJI has an active and lively online networking group with presently over 550 membersDiscussion on its rolls.

• forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh (fEJb) The forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh (fEJb) was founded on August 10, 1983. The initiative came from journalists who attended a training course organized by the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) on “Environmental Reporting”. The FEJB organizes workshops and seminars to improve the quality of environmental journalism in Bangladesh. The objectives Preparedof the Forum are to monitor environmental changes and trends as well as to inform the public about nationally impacted environmental issues.

• Society of Indonesian Environmental Journalists (sIEJ)

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It is a local network co-operating with Internews and Earth Journalism Network. The society has existed since 2006, after being launched by the Earth Journalism Network in association with Earth Day 2006. The information is only presented in the Indonesian language.

• Nepal forum of Environmental Journalists (nEfEJ)

It was founded on June 1, 1986 and has developed continuously ever since. By May 2011, the NGO had 118 members working as journalists for reputed national newspapers. Additionally, NEFEJ has “associated members” working as natural and social scientists or bureaucrats, who are willing to contribute to raising environmental awareness in Nepal. BISRCI

• China forum of Environmental Journalists (CfEJ) of

It is an NGO consisting of news media institutions such as newspapers and periodicals, TV and broadcast stations, news agencies as well as environmental journalists. It is subordinated to the State Environmental Protection Administration of China (SEPA) and was founded in 1986. The mission of CFEJ is to unite environmental journalists nationwide, to raise awareness for environmental issues, and behalfto promote the implementation of sustainable development policies. Further, it aims to foster the cooperation with other NGOs and environmental journalists in the region, particularly inDraft Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. The forum is a member of the Asia-Pacificon Forum of Environmental Journalists.

 On a trans-boundary leveland journalist forum to cover environmental issues

• Asia-Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists (APFEJ) for The Asia-Pacific ForumDiscussion of Environmental Journalists (APFEJ) was founded in 1988 with the aim of promoting education, understanding and awareness of environmental issues through to accurate reporting on local, regional and international environmental topics. APFEJ is the head of the national environmental journalists’ forums and other media-related organizations in 42 countries in the Asia- Pacific region. Prepared • Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA)

The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1981 by a few Asian-American and Pacific Islander journalists, who felt the need for more support and encouragement for journalists with Asian-American and Pacific

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backgrounds, in the United States media landscape. Apart from the large American membership base, AAJA has a growing number of members throughout Asia, e.g. in Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangladesh. Around one-third of the members are students, attesting to the organization’s focus on the education of young people and preparation for the news business.

• Earth Journalism network (EJn)

Developed by Internews and Internews Europe, the Earth Journalism network (EJn) aims to empower and enable environmental journalists from developingBISRCI countries to address environmental issues more effectively, as well as build networks in countries where they did not exist before. Internews also supports already established organizationsof by offering workshops and information material, and helping with publication and distribution. It also disperses small grants. By partnering with other non-profit organizations, the EJN supports third-world journalists in participating in crucial events, e.g. big conferences or summits on climate change, biodiversity and water. The journalists benefitbehalf from capacity building activities and are given report opportunities. Draft on • International federation of Environmental Journalists (IFEJ)

It was founded in 1993 by French and German environmental journalists. It started with journalists from 28 countries.and Today , members, correspondents and/or member associations are listed in more than 117 countries around the world, building a network of 7,500 journalists. The overall goal of IFEJ is to improve the public understanding of environmental issues and a sustainable wayfor of life. Therefore, environmental journalists are being supported through networking, training andDiscussion the promotion of free access to information. Existing national environmental journalism groups and local journalists focusing on this topic, are contacted and involved in activities of the IFEJ.

. Mekong Committee to Mekong River Commission

PreparedRepresentatives from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand established Mekong Committee (as a part of United Nation’s ECAFE, Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East) in 1957 to manage the transboundary river. This committee represented the UN’s first direct involvement in international river basin planning. Though initially the plan was for 18 major river systems across the world; it eventually succeeded for Mekong. Under the transboundary initiative, all stakeholder

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countries contributed financial and other support to manage the river jointly; where independent experts and CSOs play a crucial role alongside governments.

. Nile Basin Initiative

The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) is a regional intergovernmental partnership that seeks to develop the River Nile in a cooperative manner, share substantial socio-economic benefits and promote regional peace and security. It was launched in 1999 by Ministers in charge of Water Affairs in the riparian countries namely Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, The Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Eritrea participates as an observer. NBI provides riparian countries with the first and one of its kind all-inclusive regional platform for multi stakeholder dialogue, information sharing as well as joint planning and management of water and related resources in the Nile Basin. BISRCI

. SEAN's transboundary issues of The outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in followed by the H1N1 aviaflu spread rapidly across the borders of several ASEAN (member states of the Association of South East Asian Nations) countries, requiring flexible arrangements considering sovereignty in tracking and containing the spread of the virus across borders. The social and economic costs of SARS induced the ASEAN Health Ministers to convenebehalf special meetings with their counterpart from China (the country of origin) to receive full information Draftand updates on the SARS situation there. Remark: The devastating impact of theon Indian Ocean tsunami on coastal cities in Indonesia and Thailand in 2004, the 2008 Cyclone Nargis humanitarian crisis in Myanman, and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013, have shown that regional collaboration can catalyse or facilitate better response. and . SAARC for The environmental forum adopted a common position regarding environmental changes on the international stage.Discussion After the tsunami in December 2004 and the earthquake in December 2005, the association established the SAARC Disaster management Centre (SDMC), which provides policy advice and special training programs for effective disaster risk reduction and management.

Prepared• Commonwealth Environmental Journalists Association (CEJA)

The Commonwealth Environmental Journalists Association (CEJA) unites environmental journalists from the British Commonwealth, offering a chance to share information, problems and solutions. There are now 19 member countries representing over 100 individual members, as well as media and environmental organizations.

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• Asian Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network (AECEN)

The Asian Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network (AECEN) established in 2005, to promote improved compliance with environmental legal requirements in Asia, through regional exchange of policies and practices. Members are national and sub-national agencies from Asian countries. Presently included are agencies from the following countries: Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, People’s Republic of China, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

Process BISRCI With this broad premise in contention, several formal and informal media interactions have been undertaken with help of other stakeholders since 2015 under the aegis of ofthe assignment from the World Bank. Major suggestions vis-à-vis media collaboration from those media meetings are mentioned below:

Key Suggestions / Observations / Reactions • Formation of environmental journalist group onbehalf Sundarbans from both Bangladesh and India, and require coordination between them • Independent Sundarban media platform that can work on Draftits own with government and international funding and create trans‐onbounda ry membership and mentorship. • Production of dynamic joint narratives of India and Bangladesh focusing on common issues of Sundarbans. • Training and workshop forand the local journalists (from Sundarnbans region and surrounding cities) from both countries. • Case study from other SAARC countries to highlight how the respective media has played roles to the betterforment o f their regions. • Aggressive / Positive mediaDiscussion campaign on common transboundary issues (Print, Electronic and Social Media) considering Sundarbans as a single unit. • Photo exhibition travelling in the metros as well as Sundarbans to involve local people. • News Web Portal on Sundarbans. • Use of community Radio in local languages. • Broadcast in National radio. • Communication among civil society, media and Government is important. Their roles are Preparedvital in this context. • Communication of media person and other stakeholders. • The media needs to raise the level of Sundarbans discourse at the national and international level as well as taking responsibility of advocating the change. • Kathmandu Declaration of SAARC states should be duly recognized. • Integrated coverage or holistic coverage of Sundarban needed.

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• We need a public relation outlet driven by consortium of NGOs but both decision makers and opinion makers are important in this consortium. • There are so many gaps within civil society, media, policy maker and the implementers about the perceptions and actions regarding Sundarban which needs to be narrowed down. • There can be training cum exposure options for journalists on Sundarban. • We need a proper data management plan for Sundarban, including that of Bangladesh Sundarban, which will positively contribute to the cause of coverage for Sundarban. • We need to showcase a Sundarban story in a new dimension or with a different and interesting perspective to get editorial clearance. • There is a need of a linkage between the local news papers of Sundarban and the mainstream news papers from both India & Bangladesh. • Local media also need to produce story on alternative livelihood, sustainable agriculture & pisciculture. BISRCI • Making common platform is really important; but initiative from government is also important in the context. of • Local media generally can’t pursue any story with serious political concoction because of the risk that entails with the effort. Mainstream journalists have however protection or backing to do relatively serious story on political issues unlike local media. behalf Possible structure: Draft Several key issues need to be discussed to frameon out the platform based on above mentioned outputs. The major questions need to be discussed include:

i. Constitution of the platform / Legality of platform? and Option: Indian part of the consortium will be registered in India under Society Registration Act and Bangladesh part of the consortium will be registered in Bangladesh. And those two platforms will work coherently.for The consortium model of WWF is a good example which we can follow. Discussion ii. Objective of the platform?

• Facilitate improving the quality and quantity of Sundarban coverage at local, country wise, trans boundary and global context • Facilitate improving the content , both at vertical and horizontal level Prepared• Help in more coverage of climate change related issues as the region is a hot bed of the phenomenon • Mutual – Bangladesh and India - capacity building and exposure to Sundarban related issues to help appreciating the news in a holistic manner • Capacity building of local and mainstream journalists on nuances of environment and climate change in general and Sundarban in particular.

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• Raising Sundarban at global platforms • Interface and advocacy with various key stakeholders including respective governments, civil society , academicians as well as local people

iii. Will it be tagged to Press Clubs?

Press club may play an important role in strengthening the platform but the platform will be independent in nature. However senior journalists may play the role of mentors/ advisors and also can help in logistics support as required. A senior Press club official may be requested to hold the position in platform as statute.

iv. Timeline of the platform? BISRCI It is a permanent platform. It is expected to take shape after initial round of discussions within journalists of two countries. Suggestions may also be sought fromof Sundarban experts if required.

v. Structure of the platform?

It is a twin structure platform. India and Bangladesh will work separately but there will be a regular and consistent interface. There may be a five member committee from India and also a five member committee from Bangladesh. Therebehalf will be president, vice president, treasurer and others. This five member committee can be elected among the member journalists of the platform in both countries. Apart from this there may be non journalisticDraft expert advisors in the platform from both countries but they will not onhave voting rights. There may also be a scope for journalists’ from other countries to join the platform.

vi. Drivers including businessand plan of the platform?

Regular financial support is required for the platform to take shape and perform satisfactorily. The platform mayfor try to generate fund from various sources as available. Both platforms may try to generate their own funds to be used specifically for their functioning but fund may be pooled in case of joint programmes.Discussion The platforms may decide that whether they will take membership fees or not. However it is believed that the platform will require initial handholding from an interested funding agency like World Bank or otherwise for at least first five years to ensure that the platform starts working in an appropriate matter.

Preparedvii. Any positioning vis-à-vis politics?

The platform is expected to be kept distanced from any political ideology.

viii. Long term goal of the platform?

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Sustainability of Sundarban and its people, improvement of the quality of life, appropriate advocacy for the conservation of Sundarban and also to showcase Sundarban in the global platform.

ix. Any other agenda?

BISRCI of

behalf Draft on and for Discussion

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Annexure IV

Recent Stories on Sundarban in major media platforms

Serial Publications

1 New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/climate/the-city-of-my-birth-in- india-is-becoming-a-climate-casualty-it-didnt-have-to-be.html

2 The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/kolkata-india- climate-change-casuality-coastal-flooding-ganges-a8479516.html

3 Mirage News https://www.miragenews.com/climate-change-may-destroy-tiger-s- home/?fbclid=IwAR07dFyx2dxvR9vzWZwixUHwj3bCycVvU0rBv_pHmsWrBISRCI bxFjmQON5A6nNPc of 4 The New Indian http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/jan/27/people- Express migrating-from-sundarbans-as-climate-threat-soars- 1930514.html?fbclid=IwAR2tgOus- tLk_UhTa53NfzXmAiSgAHGoIr5pOz3T9vx2F4gJTzbqHNgNkOg

5 Down To Earth https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climatebehalf- change/sundarbans- swamp-tigers-could-be-gone-in-50-years-warnsDraft-study-63226 6 The Better India https://www.thebetterindia.com/172997/sunderbanson -tigers-anil-mistry- wildlife-hero-india/ 7 The Daily Star https://www.thedailystar.net/letterand s/news/prevent-the-possible- extinction-bengal-tigers-1706713 8 Mongabay https://india.mongabay.com/2019/02/sundarbanfor -reserve-forest-now-a- wetland-of-international- importance/?fbclid=IwAR1wHgC7K44lTBcCDU5yHzfEaM84mxJ1Wk15ToDiscussion hVeZt2TC2F5Rp6WfB72-c

9 INUTH https://www.inuth.com/beyond-the- headlines/environment/sundarbans-is-now-indias-largest-protected- wetland-heres-why-it-is- important/?fbclid=IwAR0uPpng8VDge1Y2006pw_9Ft07eu_XY6hC028WT PreparedLqGRXhia52X6vL2u3 -k

10 The Independent http://www.theindependentbd.com/post/187667?fbclid=IwAR1hxFBhQr Ssy-7fujJfKQQiF2wy7dfJPzGnzbhOIvoRnaiuLMmXnzK6aAY

11 First Post https://www.firstpost.com/india/west-bengals-climate-change- conundrum-why-kolkata-is-more-heat-stressed-than-other-megacities-

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6106581.html

12 First Post https://www.firstpost.com/india/west-bengals-climate-change- conundrum-part-ii-changing-rainfall-patterns-have-left-kolkata- vulnerable-to-flooding-heres-why-6112851.html

13 First Post https://www.firstpost.com/india/west-bengals-climate-change- conundrum-part-iii-extraordinarily-rapid-sea-level-rise-in-sundarbans- turns-families-into-refugees-6120781.html

14 First Post https://www.firstpost.com/india/west-bengals-climate-change- conundrum-part-iv-how-intensifying-cyclones-threaten-sundarbans-way- of-life-6128361.html BISRCI 15 First Post https://www.firstpost.com/india/west-bengals-climate-change- conundrum-part-v-erratic-seasons-exacerbating-physiologicalof - psychosomatic-problems-in-human-beings-6135931.html

behalf Draft on and for Discussion

Prepared

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