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Sundarban: Conservation Efforts, Designations & Agreements - UPSC Environment And Ecology
What is Sundarban: Conservation Efforts, Designations & Agreements in UPSC Environment And Ecology?
Sundarban: Conservation Efforts, Designations & Agreements is a key topic under Environment And Ecology for UPSC Civil Services Examination. Key points include: Sundarbans: World's largest mangrove forest, 40% in India, rest in Bangladesh.. Designated UNESCO World Heritage Site (India 1987, Bangladesh 1997).. Indian Sundarban Wetland recognized as Ramsar Site in January 2019.. Understanding this topic is essential for both UPSC Prelims and Mains preparation.
Why is Sundarban: Conservation Efforts, Designations & Agreements important for UPSC exam?
Sundarban: Conservation Efforts, Designations & Agreements is a Medium-level topic in UPSC Environment And Ecology. It is tested in both Prelims (factual MCQs) and Mains (analytical answer writing). Previous year UPSC questions have frequently covered aspects of Sundarban: Conservation Efforts, Designations & Agreements, making it essential for comprehensive IAS preparation.
How to prepare Sundarban: Conservation Efforts, Designations & Agreements for UPSC?
To prepare Sundarban: Conservation Efforts, Designations & Agreements for UPSC: (1) Study the comprehensive notes covering all key concepts on Vaidra. (2) Practice previous year questions on this topic. (3) Connect it with current affairs using daily updates. (4) Revise using key takeaways and mind maps available for Environment And Ecology. (5) Write practice answers linking Sundarban: Conservation Efforts, Designations & Agreements to related GS Paper topics.
Key takeaways of Sundarban: Conservation Efforts, Designations & Agreements for UPSC
- Sundarbans: World's largest mangrove forest, 40% in India, rest in Bangladesh.
- Designated UNESCO World Heritage Site (India 1987, Bangladesh 1997).
- Indian Sundarban Wetland recognized as Ramsar Site in January 2019.
- Project Tiger crucial for Royal Bengal Tiger and overall ecosystem protection.
- India and Bangladesh signed MoU in 2013 for joint conservation.
- Sundarbans is a Biosphere Reserve, containing multiple National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Sundarban: Conservation Efforts, Designations & Agreements
Medium⏱️ 6 min read
environment and ecology
📖 Introduction
Geographical Extent of Sundarbans
The Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, is a transboundary ecosystem. Approximately 40% of this unique region lies within India, while the remaining portion is situated in Bangladesh.
Key Fact: The Sundarbans delta spans across the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna river basins.
UNESCO World Heritage Site Status
The Sundarbans has received international recognition for its outstanding universal value. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in two phases, reflecting its transboundary nature.
- The Indian Sundarbans received this prestigious status in 1987.
- The Bangladesh Sundarbans was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
Ramsar Site Recognition
Further bolstering its protected status, the Sundarban Wetland, India, was acknowledged under the Ramsar Convention.
Date of Recognition: The Indian Sundarban Wetland was declared a 'Wetland of International Importance' in January 2019.
Project Tiger's Impact on Sundarbans
Project Tiger stands as a pivotal conservation initiative for the Sundarbans. Its primary objective was to safeguard the habitat of the iconic Royal Bengal Tiger.
Significance: By protecting the Royal Bengal Tiger population, Project Tiger effectively extended protection to the entire, unique Sundarbans ecosystem.
India-Bangladesh Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
Recognizing the shared responsibility for this vital ecosystem, India and Bangladesh formalized their cooperation.
Agreement: In 2013, both nations signed an MoU on the Conservation of the Sundarbans. This agreement underscored the mutual need for monitoring and conserving the region.
Biosphere Reserve and Protected Areas
The Sundarbans is also designated as a Biosphere Reserve (BR), a recognition by UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme. This status emphasizes sustainable development alongside conservation.
Within the broader Biosphere Reserve, several specific protected areas exist, including national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, ensuring stringent conservation measures.
- Sundarbans National Park (India)
- Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
- Sundarbans West Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
- Sundarbans South Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
- Sundarbans Reserve Forest (Bangladesh)
UPSC Insight: Understanding the multi-layered protection (UNESCO, Ramsar, Project Tiger, Biosphere Reserve, Bilateral MoUs) of the Sundarbans is crucial for Mains answers on conservation models and international cooperation in environment.
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Sundarbans: World's largest mangrove forest, 40% in India, rest in Bangladesh.
- •Designated UNESCO World Heritage Site (India 1987, Bangladesh 1997).
- •Indian Sundarban Wetland recognized as Ramsar Site in January 2019.
- •Project Tiger crucial for Royal Bengal Tiger and overall ecosystem protection.
- •India and Bangladesh signed MoU in 2013 for joint conservation.
- •Sundarbans is a Biosphere Reserve, containing multiple National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
🧠 Memory Techniques
95% Verified Content
📚 Reference Sources
•UNESCO World Heritage Centre official website
•Ramsar Convention Secretariat official website
•Project Tiger official website (National Tiger Conservation Authority, NTCA)
•Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India