Eco-tourism to protect the reserve mangrove forest of the Sundarbans and its flora and fauna

Citation

Salam MA, Ross L & Beveridge MCM (2000) Eco-tourism to protect the reserve mangrove forest of the Sundarbans and its flora and fauna. Anatolia, 11 (1), pp. 56-66. https://doi.org/10.1080/13032917.2000.9686983

Abstract
Nature based tourism is increasing throughout the world. Most is based in national parks and restricted areas. UNESCO has declared 28% of the world's largest continuous mangrove forest, the Sundarbans, as a world heritage site in 1987. But having the world's densest population, it is difficult to protect the flora and fauna unless there are economic benefits to the country as well as to the local people. This paper suggests that nature-oriented tourism can be one means to help achieve sustainability in the reserve forest as well as protecting the important world heritage site. Well-planned tourism could provide economic and political incentives for proper management and for conservation and could bring additional benefit to local communities and regional economies. The paper focuses on how to minimise the impact of tourist intervention in the reserve forest using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) as a tool. Information Technology (IT), and Landsat TM remote sensing imagery as primary data sources.

Keywords
Bangladesh; mangrove; eco-tourism; sustainable; planning; GIS

Journal
Anatolia: Volume 11, Issue 1

People

Professor Lindsay Ross

Emeritus Professor, Institute of Aquaculture