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Economic dependence on mangrove forest resources for livelihoods in the Sundarbans, Bangladesh

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  • Mohammad Abdullah, Abu Nasar
  • Stacey, Natasha
  • Garnett, Stephen T.
  • Myers, Bronwyn

Abstract

This study examines the importance of mangrove resources to the livelihoods of people living beside the world's largest contiguous mangrove forest. Median annual household income was USD 1122, based on household survey data from 264 households in six villages adjacent to the Sundarbans, in Khulna, Bangladesh. Forest income represented 74% and 48% of the total household income for the lower and middle income households respectively, but just 23% for higher income households. Although higher income households derived a larger absolute income from forest resources than the lower income households, the addition of forest income to household income reduces measured income inequality by 27% suggesting that forests offer a more egalitarian source of income than most other sources at the study sites. Thus reducing forest income as a result of reduced access to forest resources would greatly affect the livelihood outcomes for the rural poor and increase wealth discrepancies among households near the forest margins.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammad Abdullah, Abu Nasar & Stacey, Natasha & Garnett, Stephen T. & Myers, Bronwyn, 2016. "Economic dependence on mangrove forest resources for livelihoods in the Sundarbans, Bangladesh," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 15-24.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:forpol:v:64:y:2016:i:c:p:15-24
    DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2015.12.009
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    2. Kibria, Abu SMG & Costanza, Robert & Soto, José R, 2022. "Modeling the complex associations of human wellbeing dimensions in a coupled human-natural system: In contexts of marginalized communities," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 466(C).
    3. Abu Nasar Abdullah & Bronwyn Myers & Natasha Stacey & Kerstin K. Zander & Stephen T. Garnett, 2017. "The impact of the expansion of shrimp aquaculture on livelihoods in coastal Bangladesh," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(5), pages 2093-2114, October.
    4. Harun M. Kiruki & Emma H. Zanden & Patrick Kariuki & Peter H. Verburg, 2020. "The contribution of charcoal production to rural livelihoods in a semi-arid area in Kenya," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 6931-6960, October.
    5. Kibria, Abu S.M.G. & Costanza, Robert & Groves, Colin & Behie, Alison M., 2018. "The interactions between livelihood capitals and access of local communities to the forest provisioning services of the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest, Bangladesh," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 32(PA), pages 41-49.
    6. Taye, Fitalew Agimass & Folkersen, Maja Vinde & Fleming, Christopher M. & Buckwell, Andrew & Mackey, Brendan & Diwakar, K.C. & Le, Dung & Hasan, Syezlin & Ange, Chantal Saint, 2021. "The economic values of global forest ecosystem services: A meta-analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    7. Ahammad, Ronju & Stacey, Natasha & Sunderland, Terry C.H., 2019. "Use and perceived importance of forest ecosystem services in rural livelihoods of Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 87-98.
    8. Nayu Nuringdati Widianingsih & Ida Theilade & Mariève Pouliot, 2016. "Contribution of Forest Restoration to Rural Livelihoods and Household Income in Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-22, August.
    9. Begum, Flora & de Bruyn, Lisa Lobry & Kristiansen, Paul & Islam, Mohammad Amirul, 2023. "Development pathways for co-management in the Sundarban mangrove forest: A multiple stakeholder perspective," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    10. Khan, Md Faisal Abedin & Uddin, Md Sazib & Giessen, Lukas, 2021. "Microcredit expansion and informal donor interests: Experiences from local NGOs in the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest, Bangladesh," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 21(C).
    11. Kan, Siyi & Chen, Bin & Chen, Guoqian, 2023. "Globalization of forest land use: Increasing threats on climate-vulnerable regions," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
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