Promoting integrated management of the Sundarbans mangroves and the Marine Protected area ‘Swatch of No Ground’

Context

The marine area Swatch of No Ground (SoNG) is a highly productive marine canyon and biodiversity hotspot for whales and dolphins in the south near the shore of the Sundarbans mangrove forest. In 2014, the Government of Bangladesh declared 173,800 hectares as Marine Protected Area (MPA). Many coastal fishing communities are highly dependent on this area. The main challenge in protecting and successfully managing SoNG is that the Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD) does not have the technical and personnel capabilities to carry out its mandate effectively. Moreover, there is a lack of inter-agency dialogue and coordination in planning, monitoring and managing data, especially with the Department of Fisheries (DoF), the Coast Guard and Navy.

Objective

Coordination mechanisms among stakeholders for the better protection and sustainable use of the natural resources of theSundarbans and the SoNG area is improved.

Approach

The project pursues its aims by:

• improving the planning and monitoring capabilities of relevant actors to achieve a more efficient protection and more sustainable use of the coastal and marine resources,
• providing for better foundations for knowledge-based decision-making in marine resource management and biodiversity conservation in the SoNG area and the Sundarbans,
• training fishermen and women in the fisheries value chain and encourage youth from selected coastal communities to contribute actively to the conservation of biodiversity and nature.

Last update: April 2023