Climate risks adaptation strategies for Indian Sundarbans

Climate change has profoundly impacted tropical ecosystems, critical for sustaining economies and community livelihoods at local to global scales. Rapid population growth has further negatively impacted natural resource management and upsetting the socio-ecological balance. Sundarbans, world’s largest contiguous tract of mangroves, is not an exception. It is shared between Bangladesh (60%) and India (40%) but the later is much more populated. Indian Sundarbans (IS) is not only the home of 4.5 million people but also of 85% total Indian mangrove habitat and 1434 faunal species. Agriculture, fishery and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) from mangroves are their major sources of income. Inhabitants of this climatically vulnerable region are facing the risks of becoming environmental refugees due to land loss by shore…