Asia-Pacific Water Forum

COASTAL PLANNING, CONSERVATION OF BIOSPHERE AND WATER

Case Study from coastal area of Bengal

One third of the world’s urban areas is on the coast. In many countries coastal areas are vulnerable to natural disaster and there are advarse environmental impact on fragile ecology, flora and fauna. There is increasing pollution and urbanisation.

A coastal zone is unified by water – rivers, canals, marshes, wetlands, estuaries, lagoons, flood plains, aquifer and recharge area, and various areas according to nature of water which can be identified. There are upstream pollution and siltation and lack of coordination between upstream and downstream areas. After the tsunami disaster, some coastal regulations have been enforced and disaster warning system has been built but an integrated coastal zonal management with participatory development is still a reality with environmental parameters – physical, biological and ecological. It requires an integration of water system with agriculture, irrigation, forestry, biodiversity human settlement, information etc.

As for example, the Sunderbans biosphere in lower Gangetic delta is rich in flora and fauna. Mangrove forests reduce disaster vulnerablity. The tidal swamps and estuaries are degraded by deforestation,. In future, due to climate change and sea level rise coastal areas are likely to be more vulnerable. An Integrated coastal planning and management with conservation, environment and development components is needed. The Unesco has declared it as the World Heritage site. The Unesco’s man and Biosphere programme outlines three functions – conservation, development and logistic support.

Centre for Built Environment is involved in the study research of coastal area and many papers have been presented by the members. For further informative please contact Centre for Built Environment (shivashishbose@yahoo.co.in).

(Poster: Prof. Santosh Ghosh)