STATUS AND TRENDS IN MANGROVE AREA EXTENT WORLDWIDE

Bangladesh

Vegetation description

The Sunderbans Forest Reserve represents the biggest stand of the mangroves Bangladesh, and it is located in the south-eastern part of the delta region around Khulna. Other important stands are located in the district of Chittagong, in the south-east part of the country.

The predominant tree species are sundri (Heritiera minor) and gewa (Excoecaria agallocha). Less frequent species are passur (Xylocarpus moluccensis var. gangetica syn Carapa moluccensis var.gangetica), goran (Ceriops roxburghiana), kankra (Bruguiera gymnorhiza), keora (Sonneratia apetala) and baen (Avicennia officinalis). This closed forest has a dense canopy, and the trees can reach a maximum height of 25 to 30 m, although they are usually 8 to 15 m high. Tree diameters range from 10 to 20 cm although 45 cm can be reached under favourable conditions.

FAO, UNEP. 1981. Tropical Forest Resourcess Assesment Project, Forest Resources of Tropical Asia. FAO, UNEP, 475 pp.

National level mangrove area estimates

Year

Area
(ha)

Source

Trend

Methodology/Comments

1959

407 000

Ray, R.G. 1971. Six forest inventories in the Tropics. No. 3&4. Pakistan. In collaboration with Canadian International Development Agency. Ottawa.

Cited in: FAO, UNEP. 1981. Tropical Forest Resourcess Assesment Project, Forest Resources of Tropical Asia. FAO, UNEP, 475 pp. Interpretation of aerial photos.

1978

400 000

Department of Forests. 1978. Country report for the Eight World Forestry Congress 1978. Jakarta, Indonesia Oct. 16-28, 1978 – Dacca.

Cited in: FAO, UNEP. 1981. Tropical Forest Resourcess Assesment Project, Forest Resources of Tropical Asia. FAO, UNEP, 475 pp. This figure refers to the extent of mangroves in the Sundarbans.

1978

600 000

FAO. 1978. Country report on Forestry Communities Practising Shifting Cultivation in Bangladesh UNFPA/FAO project - Bangkok

X

Cited in: FAO, UNEP. 1981. Tropical Forest Resourcess Assesment Project, Forest Resources of Tropical Asia. FAO, UNEP, 475 pp.

1979

405 000

FAO. 1979. Draft project terminal report of project BGD/72/005. By White, K.J. Chittagong.

Cited in: FAO, UNEP. 1981. Tropical Forest Resourcess Assesment Project, Forest Resources of Tropical Asia. FAO, UNEP, 475 pp.

1981

576 700

Spalding, M.D., Blasco, F. and Field, C.D., eds. 1997. World Mangrove Atlas. The International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems, Okinawa, Japan. 178 pp.

X

Map analysis. 1:500 000. The alternative estimate provided in the document is Siddiqi, 1995 (see below)

1982

625 374

Habib, M.G. 1982. Improvements of Sundarbans by enrichment plantation. In: Proceedings of the Second Bangladesh National Conference on forestry, Dhaka. p 150-155.

X

Cited in: Rahman, L.M. 1986. Monograph on Mangrove Forest. Asia Pakistan Forest Inst., Forest Education Div., Thesis (M.Sc.), University of Peshawar (Pakistan) 176 pp.

The "Year" is the publication year.

1983

410 000

Wacharakitty, S. 1983. Mangrove Ecosystem in General. In: ESCAP/UNESCO/NRCT Regional Remote Sensing Training Course of Mangrove Ecosystem. p. 22-33. Bangkok, Nov. 28-Dec. 16 1983

Cited in: FAO. 1994. Mangrove forest management guidelines. FAO Forestry Paper 117. Rome, 319 pp. The figure probably refers to the mangroves of the Sundarbans.

1984

417 013

Hamilton, L.S. and Snedaker, S.C., eds. Handbook for Mangrove Area Management. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. UNESCO Paris & East-West Center, Hawaii; 123 pp

Secondary reference, no primary source provided. This figure could refer to the Sundarbans

1985

395 600

Anonymous. 2000. Mangrove Conservation and Development: Bangladesh Country Profile

Secondary reference, no primary source provided.

1986

587 380

Mahmood. N. 1986. Effects of shrimp farming and other impacts on mangroves of Bangladesh. Paper presented at the Third Session of IPFC Workshop on Inland Fish/Mangrove, 22–25 June, Bangkok, Thailand.

X

Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year.

1991

671 779

Forest Department. 1991. Development of Forest Resources in Bangladesh.

No definition of methodology provided. The “Year” is the publication year.

1993

710 000

Khatun, Fahmida, Akter. 1998. Depreciation of forest Resources in Bangladesh. Research Rep.No. 157 - Bangladesh Institute Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies. Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Secondary reference, no primary source provided.

1995

634 300

Siddiqi. 1995. Personal communication

Cited in: Spalding, M.D., Blasco, F. and Field, C.D., eds. 1997. World Mangrove Atlas. The International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems, Okinawa, Japan. 178 pp.

1996

622 482

Ibid.

X

Combined national level mangrove estimate based on the following remote sensing studies: The Sundarbans: Revilla, Ahmand, Hussain. 1998. Final Report: Forest inventory of the Sunderbans Reserved Forest. (Ref. Year: 1996).

Cox's Bazar: Revilla, Ahmand, Hussain. 1998. Forest Inventory of the Natural Forest and Forest Plantations (Ref. Year: 1996)

Chittagong, Patuakhali, Barisal, Noakhali: Revilla, Ahmand, Hussain, 1998. Forest Inventory of the Coastal Afforestation Divisions. (Ref. Year: 1996)

The reference year is the area weighted average.

2000

630 000

Aizpuru, M., Achard, F., and Blasco, F. 2000. Global Assessment of Cover Change of the Mangrove Forests using satellite imagery at medium to high resolution. In EEC Research project n 15017-1999-05 FIED ISP FR – Joint Research center, Ispra.

National level estimate based on extrapolation from an India/Bangladesh remote sensing case studies in The Mouth of the Ganges (The Sundabarns) and literature review.

Trends in mangrove area extent over time

Box 1. The Sundarbans Reserved Forest

The Sundarbans Reserved Forest is the single largest contiguous mangrove forest ecosystem in the world covering approximately 1,000,000 ha, between India and Bangladesh. It is located in the delta of south-west Bangladesh, between latitudes 21° 30' N and 22° 30' N and longitude 89° 00' E and 89° 55' E, in the administrative division of Khulna. The process for the institution of the Reserve began in 1875. The area then assigned assigned to be protected by legislation equalled to 541,800 ha. The physical boundary of the reserve has changed several times over the years, and the creation of the protected area ended in 1932/1933. The limit of the Reserve has not changed since then. (FAO, 1998)

Area changes over time, the Sundarbans Reserved Forest, Bangladesh

The figure above shows the area estimates over time. As can be seen the Sundarbans Reserved Forest appeares to have been relatively well protected and the area has been kept relatively intact. The latest and more reliable estimate is 411,233 ha (Revilla, et al. 1998, reference year 1996). A regression analysis of existing reliable data provided the estimates for 1980, 1990 and an extrapolated figure for 2000, the power curve resulting as the best fit.

For a list of references for these estimates please refer to

FAO. 2002. FAO’s database on mangrove area estimates, by M.L. Wilkie, S. Fortuna and & O. Souksavat. Forest Resources Assessment Working Paper No. 62. Rome.

Year	Area (ha)	Source	Trend	Methodology/Comments
1959	407 000	Ray, R.G. 1971. Six forest inventories in the Tropics. No. 3&4. Pakistan. In collaboration with Canadian International Development Agency. Ottawa.		Cited in: FAO, UNEP. 1981. Tropical Forest Resourcess Assesment Project, Forest Resources of Tropical Asia. FAO, UNEP, 475 pp. Interpretation of aerial photos.
1978	400 000	Department of Forests. 1978. Country report for the Eight World Forestry Congress 1978. Jakarta, Indonesia Oct. 16-28, 1978 – Dacca.		Cited in: FAO, UNEP. 1981. Tropical Forest Resourcess Assesment Project, Forest Resources of Tropical Asia. FAO, UNEP, 475 pp. This figure refers to the extent of mangroves in the Sundarbans.
1978	600 000	FAO. 1978. Country report on Forestry Communities Practising Shifting Cultivation in Bangladesh UNFPA/FAO project - Bangkok	X	Cited in: FAO, UNEP. 1981. Tropical Forest Resourcess Assesment Project, Forest Resources of Tropical Asia. FAO, UNEP, 475 pp.
1979	405 000	FAO. 1979. Draft project terminal report of project BGD/72/005. By White, K.J. Chittagong.		Cited in: FAO, UNEP. 1981. Tropical Forest Resourcess Assesment Project, Forest Resources of Tropical Asia. FAO, UNEP, 475 pp.
1981	576 700	Spalding, M.D., Blasco, F. and Field, C.D., eds. 1997. World Mangrove Atlas. The International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems, Okinawa, Japan. 178 pp.	X	Map analysis. 1:500 000. The alternative estimate provided in the document is Siddiqi, 1995 (see below)
1982	625 374	Habib, M.G. 1982. Improvements of Sundarbans by enrichment plantation. In: Proceedings of the Second Bangladesh National Conference on forestry, Dhaka. p 150-155.	X	Cited in: Rahman, L.M. 1986. Monograph on Mangrove Forest. Asia Pakistan Forest Inst., Forest Education Div., Thesis (M.Sc.), University of Peshawar (Pakistan) 176 pp. The "Year" is the publication year.
1983	410 000	Wacharakitty, S. 1983. Mangrove Ecosystem in General. In: ESCAP/UNESCO/NRCT Regional Remote Sensing Training Course of Mangrove Ecosystem. p. 22-33. Bangkok, Nov. 28-Dec. 16 1983		Cited in: FAO. 1994. Mangrove forest management guidelines. FAO Forestry Paper 117. Rome, 319 pp. The figure probably refers to the mangroves of the Sundarbans.
1984	417 013	Hamilton, L.S. and Snedaker, S.C., eds. Handbook for Mangrove Area Management. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. UNESCO Paris & East-West Center, Hawaii; 123 pp		Secondary reference, no primary source provided. This figure could refer to the Sundarbans
1985	395 600	Anonymous. 2000. Mangrove Conservation and Development: Bangladesh Country Profile		Secondary reference, no primary source provided.
1986	587 380	Mahmood. N. 1986. Effects of shrimp farming and other impacts on mangroves of Bangladesh. Paper presented at the Third Session of IPFC Workshop on Inland Fish/Mangrove, 22–25 June, Bangkok, Thailand.	X	Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year.
1991	671 779	Forest Department. 1991. Development of Forest Resources in Bangladesh.		No definition of methodology provided. The “Year” is the publication year.
1993	710 000	Khatun, Fahmida, Akter. 1998. Depreciation of forest Resources in Bangladesh. Research Rep.No. 157 - Bangladesh Institute Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies. Dhaka, Bangladesh.		Secondary reference, no primary source provided.
1995	634 300	Siddiqi. 1995. Personal communication		Cited in: Spalding, M.D., Blasco, F. and Field, C.D., eds. 1997. World Mangrove Atlas. The International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems, Okinawa, Japan. 178 pp.
1996	622 482	Ibid.	X	Combined national level mangrove estimate based on the following remote sensing studies: The Sundarbans: Revilla, Ahmand, Hussain. 1998. Final Report: Forest inventory of the Sunderbans Reserved Forest. (Ref. Year: 1996). Cox's Bazar: Revilla, Ahmand, Hussain. 1998. Forest Inventory of the Natural Forest and Forest Plantations (Ref. Year: 1996) Chittagong, Patuakhali, Barisal, Noakhali: Revilla, Ahmand, Hussain, 1998. Forest Inventory of the Coastal Afforestation Divisions. (Ref. Year: 1996) The reference year is the area weighted average.
2000	630 000	Aizpuru, M., Achard, F., and Blasco, F. 2000. Global Assessment of Cover Change of the Mangrove Forests using satellite imagery at medium to high resolution. In EEC Research project n 15017-1999-05 FIED ISP FR – Joint Research center, Ispra.		National level estimate based on extrapolation from an India/Bangladesh remote sensing case studies in The Mouth of the Ganges (The Sundabarns) and literature review.