Introduction
The coastal areas of Bangladesh contains several
ecosystems that have important conservation values.
Part of the Sundarbans, the world’s largest stretch of
mangrove ecosystem, has been declared a World
Heritage Site, whereas coral ecosystems are found
around St Martin’s Island. Research indicates a network
of coastal defences, especially a belt ofmangroves, is
capable of absorbing 30 to 40 per cent of the total force
of a tsunami or typhoon and ensuing waves before they
swirl over inhabited areas by the shore. Healthy
mangroves not only protect coastal communities from
the sea, but they are also profitable ecosystems in
themselves. Mangroves act as nurseries for a wide
range of species: fish and shrimp spawn and mature in
mangrove ecosystems before moving into deep and
open waters. As such, mangroves play an important role in the ecology that supports artisan fisheries of coastal
communities.
