Cox

Field Work On Coastal Environment at Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, Saint Martin And Its Hazard Identification NOAKHALI CHHARA A naturally evolved area in the hill which is influenced by hilly stream and create flowing path of water seasonally.

Location and extent: One of the major investigated section, the Noakhali chhara lies on the western part of the structure and extents from 20 0 55' 56'' N to 200 53' 35''N latitude to 920 15' 30'' E to 920 15' E longitude. The total studied portion of the section was 0.72 km Topography, relief and drainage pattern: Numerous hills, vertical cliffs, valleys and gorges characterized this section. The drainage pattern of the chhara is consequent in nature, follows towards the Bay of Bengal. The stream is highly active and young; and dominated by numerous joints on the streambed.

Facies type: The section provided a complex stratigraphy column in which sandy shale where the main lithofacies inwhich shale with some streaks and calcareous sandstone bands were to major sub-facies.

Tectonic features: Tectonically the section was affected by numerous interesting structures including drag fold, overturned folds, joints [vertical & oblique joints] and micro faulting. Abnormal attitudes were observed, which was the main evidence of faulting.

Sedimentary structures: The section was also rich in sedimentary structures. Flaser, bedding, wavy bedding, lenticular bedding, micro-cross lamination, bioterbation were major sedimentary structures.

Other features: The stream is geomorphically young and active. The beach was characterized by ripple and random orientation of boulders.

Fig: Stratigraphic succession of Noakhali chara Brief description of facies associations of Noakhali chhara section— No

of

the Thickness

Brief lithology

logging Shale

with

silt

or

sand

lenses.

Claystone (dark grey color), sandstone N1

3.2m

(grayish yellow color), Calcareous band (effervescence with HCl) were also present.

Mud with sand lenses. Most of the thin lenses are connected. Burrows are

N2

8cm

present where thickness .4 cm and length 1.7cm. Presence of burrows indicates low sedimentation.

Shale with silt/ sand lenses. Here

N3

5.2m

calcareous band, sand layer (yellow color), shale bed are present.

Upward increasing shale proportion of lamination

N4

75cm

and

Mudstone(Mst), wavy

sand

lenses(SL),

flaser

bedding(F),

bedding(w)

and

lenticular

bedding (Ln) Ecological stratification of Noakhali Chora: Big tree → Small tree → Shrub → Herb → Thallophyte

Fig: Ecological pyramid of Noakhali Chara Natural resources: Any part of our environment e.g., land, water, air, minerals, forest, rangeland, wildlife, fish or even human population – that man can utilize to promote his welfare may be regarded as a natural resource.

The five basic ecological variables are – • Energy • Matter • Space • Time • Diversity Classification of Natural resources of Noakhali Chora: The natural resources of Noakhali Chora can be classified into following types:

• Renewable resources • Non- renewable resources Renewable resources: Renewable resources are those which are reproducible and are obtained from the biomass of living organisms for example – trees.

Dipterocurpus alatus (Garjan) is dominated species in Noakhali Chora. As it is a woody plant, so it can be recognized a natural resources (timber, fuel etc) Aloe indica (Ghritokumari) is a medicinal plant, which is also one kind of antural resource of this Chora.

Non-renewable resource: Resources which are not reproducible and are obtains from the finite nonliving reserves are called non-renewable resources e.g., Coal, metal The area contains calcareous hard bed (marine deposition which can be used for calcium carbonate (CaCO3) extraction Climatic feature: • Sunlight cannot reach to the all region uniformly. So shade-loving trees are dominated here.

• Conservation of precipitation is low.

• Here the combination of sea environment and hilly environment is Present.

Non-Anthropogenic activities & their Impact: • For over precipitation, declination of hill is occurring there.

• Landslide may occur as a result of heavy precipitation & Fault creating through the hill.

Anthropogenic activities & their Impact: • Hill cutting activities when extreme then create landslide.

• Free cutting create the losses of soil in the hilly region as a result for over precipitation huge amount of soil washed away through the rain water.

COASTAL SHRIMP CULTURE In Bangladesh ecosystem and socio-economic conditions, extensive and improved extensive systems are being successfully practiced. Semi-intensive culture during 1993-1995 in COX ' S BAZAR area failed due to poor management and outbreak of bacterial and viral diseases. In brief, the extensive/improved extensive culture technique involves gher/pond preparation during December-February, stocking in February-March with wild as well as hatchery produced fry (pl), post stocking management including water exchange, liming, manuring etc. whenever necessary, harvesting and restocking from June to November. Macrobrachium prawn culture is low density, long duration (5-8 month cycle), mono, poly or integrated paddy cum prawn-fish mixed culture, commonly practiced in ponds as well as in paddy fields. Shrimps and prawns are omnivorous and accept natural as well as artificial feed.

Fig: Young shrimp At present tiger shrimp (Bagda) is being cultivated in about 145,000 ha of coastal and tidal lands in ghers and ponds (in 2530 thousand farms) at SATKHIRA , Khulna, BAGERHAT and Cox's

Bazar (including Chakoria and Teknaf) area under both monoculture, polyculture and integrated with paddy in Khulna area and salt in Chakoria area. Prawn (Galda) culture in about 30,000 ha in about 60,000 ponds and paddy fields is being practiced mainly in Bagerhat, Khulna, JESSORE , PATUAKHALI , BARISAL , Chittagong, LAKSHMIPUR , FENI , GOPALGANJ , MADARIPUR , FARIDPUR , KISHOREGANJ , RAJBARI and Dhaka.

Annual farmed shrimp and prawn production is about 28,514 m tons (headless) which bring about 16,150 Tk million as foreign exchange. About 60% of the total export product comes from culture source and the rest from capture sources. In 1999 farmed Bagda and Galda production was 63,164 m tons (head-on) of which contribution of shrimp was 65%, prawn 20% and others 15%. The major input in shrimp and prawn culture is the fry (pl).

It is now being produced in hatcheries; about 48 tiger shrimp hatcheries are located in Cox's Bazar and TEKNAF area producing about 4 billion tiger shrimp fry annually. Earlier in the 1980s and 1990s main source was wild fry collected from coastal and tidal waters. About 440,000 people mostly the women, children and landless are engaged in this profession.

Main problems in the shrimp/prawn culture are the outbreak of diseases mostly due to poor pond management, and lack of adequate technical knowledge, extension and institutional credit facilities. The major diseases causing mass mortality are white spot syndrome virus (WSV), vibriosis (Vibrio bacterial diseases), soft shell, black gill, muscle necrosis, fungal and protozoan infections. Metamorphosis molt mortality syndrome, bacterial necrosis, larval mid-cycle disease, and white prawn disease are specific for the prawn.

Poor management of pond bottom and water quality, recycling etc leading to pond environmental degradation, are other factors responsible for disease outbreak and mass mortality. For sustainable and environment friendly shrimp/prawn culture, integrated polyculture with paddy and fish has recently been proven to be successful technique as paddy recycle the bottom nitrogenous wastes and fish as an ally control bacteria and other shrimp/prawn pathogens to tolerable level. To prevent viral infection, screening of spawners and fry at the hatchery has been

very effective. Balanced planning and management strategies based on clear understanding of the interactions between shrimp culture and environment are the best way to prevent disease problems.

Coastal Shrimp Culture: Stronger surge and tidal wave raise potential for saline water to overtop coastal embankment now a daze a big business in the coastal districts of cox’s bazaar , Satkhira, Khujna and Bagerhat.

High tides would cer tainly threaten both inside and outside embankments.General rise in surface water temperature would also put shrimps into heat related phenomenon, if the temperature crosses a threshold of 32°C, the small shrimp would Show very high rates of mortality. In April the temperature is already quite high. Simultaneously, warmer water might appear conducive for algal bloom - the latter having detrimental effects on growth of shrimps". Climate change can, therefore, put this profitable business into uncertainty.

Prawn (chingdi) crustaceans related to crabs and lobsters, of the order Decapoda, found in all types of waterbody throughout the world. Some species live near the shore, hiding in mud or sand, or in crevices of the stones; some others swim about in groups in deep, cold water. They are of grey, brown, white or pink coloured. Some have bands over the body, some have spots.

Some prawns are red, yellow, green or blue in colour. Some species can change colour to match the surroundings. Many deep sea species are luminescent (light producers). The size ranges from 2.5 to 30 cm.

Prawns are omnivores and essentially scavengers. Some are planktivores and vegetarians. Others feed on aquatic small insects and other animals. The type of food varies according to the developmental stage and species of the prawn. Some females carry fertilized eggs under their abdomen with the pleopods until they hatch, others shed the fertilized eggs in water. Eggs of most species usually hatch as a nauplius larva and pass few larval stages, similar in appearance with the primitive crustacean groups. Bangladesh has very rich source of prawns in the Bay of Bengal, estuaries and freshwater. A total of 56 species is reported, of which 37 are salt water, 12 are brackish water, and 7 are freshwater in habitats. However, some species migrate in between lower and higher saline zones. The prawns are classified under six families, Palaemonidae, Penaeidae, Pandalidae, Alpheidae, Hippolylidae, and Sergestidae.

Impact: Export of frozen shrimp has become an important foreign exchange earner of this coutry in the recent years. The greater part of this commondity originates from the Coastal Aquaculture, Teknaf.

It has created employment opportunities for thousands of people both in shrimp fishery (culture and capture) sector itself as well as in the backward (wild shrimp fry fishing and hatcheries), and forward linkage (frozen shrimp) industries.

In absence of any code of conduct or national strategy for aquaculture in Bangladesh the coastal shrimp farming expanded very rapidly in an uncontrolled, uncoordinated and unplanned manner. In the recent past this expansion has been very remarkable, from less than, 20,000 ha of brackish water ponds in 1980, the area was increased to about 70,000 ha in 1985, 115,000 ha in 1989 and now it is about 145,000 ha. Shrimp farms are primarily located at the south-western part of the country in the districts of Khulna (29%), Satkhira (19%), and Bagerhat (29%), and at the south-eastern part mainly in the Cox's Bazar district (31%), the rest are in other coastal districts. .Impact on human habitation: In the southeastern part of this country alternate fish culture and rice cultivation during dry season (March-June) and monsoon (July-November) respectively in the same land was a traditional practice. After rapid development of shrimp farming by influential and well-to-do people, serious and strong objections were raised by local residents, peasants, leaders of grass root organisations, NGOs operating in the area, and local elected representatives to highlight the deleterious effects of shrimp farming.

The majority of conflicts arose following construction of shrimp 'ghers' (areas impounded by dykes), covering generally 40-66 ha of land. Peasants are often compelled to lease out their land to shrimp farming entrepreneurs. When a peasant opposes establishment of a gher that encompasses his land he is intimidated and threatened and has to ultimately yield. There are middlemen through which the entrepreneurs (often outsiders), are buying up the local lands. This is leading to growing land-less peasants in the region.

The ghers are controlled by entrepreneurs and larger land owning shrimp farmers; poor small land owning peasants receive an insignificant amount of money (called hari) for leasing out his land to the entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurs arbitrarily fix the amount of the lease money, which is only a small proportion of the income the peasants used to earn from the traditional rice

cultivation in this land. There are many absentee landlords who do not care about hari and this facilitates non-payment of hari by the entrepreneurs to local peasants. Lease of government land (Khas land) is done in a non-transparent way and only the wealthy, mighty and influential persons can afford to get lease of such land. In some instances, influential people invite owners of small lands to form co-operative bodies for developing larger ghers, but there is a constant complaint that the owners of small lands neither get right share of profit, nor they can participate in gher management.

Once an area comes under shrimp farming, the gher owners inundate this large area adjacent to small rice fields with saline water when the productivity of lands (both inside and outside the gher in the whole area) declines drastically. Eventually, owners of these lands are compelled to either convert their lands into gher by themselves or lease out to the owners of the adjacent larger gher. Thus, in a vast area, rice cultivation is gradually being replaced by shrimp farming. A number of traditional rice varieties (valuable genetic resources) suitable for the locality (eg gunshi, kalshi etc) are gradually disappearing. Once the Satkhira district was a rice surplus area but now there is an inflow of rice from outside.

Crop diversification has been severely undermined because of shrimp farming.

SALT FARMING, TEKNAF Salt produced in Bangladesh mainly by a process of drying up seawater by solar heat, although the lixiviation technology is also in use to manufacture about 5% of the production. Salt was manufactured in Bengal as an indigenous product along a line of seacoast extending from Cuttock to Chittagong.

History: Salt industry was some sort of government monopoly during the Mughal period.

The management was in the hands of Zaminders.who worked in collaboration with local merchants and advanced money for salt production.

Between 1757 and1765, many Englishmen entered the salt business either directly or indirectly through Benians.The society of trade formed in1765

organised British participation in salt industry for the benefit of the officers of East India Company.

Location: Salt producing areas are in costal belt of Chittagong, Noakhali, Barisal and Khulna district.

Fig: Salt after collection from field Statistics: Production fluctuated from year to year due to natural calamities, variations in rainfall, and changes in the forms of land use. Salt production never reached the pre independence level, was only about 696tons in1994 necessitating the import of 328 tons. Of the total available quantity of 1023 tons, 666 tons was for household consumption and the remaining was for industrial purposes mainly in tannery.

Uses: Besides being an essential ingredient for cooking, salt is used in production of pharmaceuticals (including orsaline) and detergents, Preservation of foods. (Especially dry fish in coastal areas).

Environmental Threats: Environmental Threats from salt farming cannot be ignored .In our study area (teknaf) we see salt farming claims a large area. Problems are: • Loss of fertility of land due to excessive salinity • Crop production is not possible.

• Local primary production is feasible.

• Unemployment after a certain period.

• Pollination process is hampered.

Proposals: • Proper selection of salt farming site is needed.

• Environmental impact assessment is required.

• Training of salt farmers is needed.

• Scientific method should be applied to make it viable.

• Introducing of salt tolerant crops is needed.

GAME RESERVE FOREST, DAMDOMIA, TEKNAF. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has been implementing a project entitled “Action Research for Conservation of Asian Elephants in Bangladesh” with financial support from US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Phase I (November 2001–April 2003) and Phase II (April 2004–June 2005) of the project were successfully completed in collaboration with Forest Department, Bangladesh.The Phase III of the project has started in November 2006 with overall goal to conserve Asian Elephants in Bangladesh.

Objectives: • • •

Degraded habitats of elephants in selected areas restored and protected Capacity and awareness levels of the local communities for conservation of wild elephants enhanced Local people mobilized for minimizing human-elephant conflicts operationalization of the draft compensation guideline facilitate

Location: The project activities will be concentrated in Cox’s Bazar Districts (Ringbone area of Fasiakhali Range of Cox’s Bazar North Forest Division and Teknaf Game Reserve of Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division) and Sherpur (Mymensingh Forest Division) of Bangladesh.

Resources:

Teknaf game reserve comprises 55 types of mammals,286 types of birds,56 types of reptiles and 290 types of plants. The main attraction is the Asian elephants, Eliphas maximus.Around 26 elephants are found here.

Natural resources of Teknaf game reserve The natural resources of Teknaf game reserve are following types: • Vegetation • Wild life Stakeholders: The whole work will be accomplished by involving all relevant stakeholders and on a participatory basis. The relevant stakeholders are, • • • • •

Local communities Educational institutions Forest Department, Bangladesh Concerned Ministries Research Institutes and projects

Proposed activities: Mapping of elephant movement paths including corridors and humanelephant conflict prone areas 1. Negotiating and convincing the Forest Department for elephant fodder plantation 2. Fodder plantation involving local communities 3. Facilitating GoB in protecting key elephant habitats 4. Networking with existing initiatives on elephant conservation 5. Capacity building of local stakeholders on elephant conservation and conflict reduction 6. Awareness programs on elephant conservation at local and national level 7. Demonstration of bio-fencing 8. Facilitating the community to replicate bio-fencing 9. Assisting local community with tools to tackle elephant attack.

Timeframe: To be completed by April 2008 Achievements:

1. Two Peer Group meetings were organized at the 'Forest Department, Bangladesh' Dhaka Office in November 2006 and January 2007 where the experts advised on the methodology and approaches of different project interventions.

2. The project villages have been selected in two Reserve Forest areas in Cox's Bazar District.

3. Baseline survey of 80 households of Cox’s Bazar North and South Forest Divisions conducted. Four group discussions in Cox’s Bazar North and South Forest Divisions and three in Sherpur (Mymensingh Forest Division). These will form a good database on the present condition of elephant population, elephant habitat, people's awareness level and human-elephant conflict scenario in the project areas.

4. Elephant fodder plantation completed involving the Forest Officials and local communities at the end of June 2007 and according to the plan developed earlier.

5. Forest Department, Bangladesh has formally been requested in February 2007 to incorporate elephant fodder plantation in its regular plantation programme in elephant ranges to improve elephant habitats.

Current status of Mangrove at Teknaf Peninsula ECAs of CB Estuaries: The major estuaries of the site include the Moheshkhali Channel and Bak-khali River in the north and the Naaf River in the south east, which provide significant habitat for flora including mudflats and mangrove. The Naaf River estuary is the most unique and highly productive ecosystem within the site. Several major canals occur along the length of the coastline, and are connected to the inland canals during high tide. The Reju Canal is the main one, entering the bay between the Ramu and Ukhia Upazila; others include the Baharchara, Rajarchara, Inani, Monkhali, Katabonia and Shilkhali canals. Hundreds of other small canals also occur along the coast line, originating from hill streams and carrying freshwater runoff to the bay.

The smaller ones remain dry throughout the winter, only becoming active with the monsoonal runoff.

Rocky intertidal areas: The rocky intertidal area is at the Inani beach is a place for tourist attraction. Hundreds of tourist come and visit this area to enjoy the intertidal rocky area which is absent at Cox’s Bazar. The impact on plant biodiversity is that the sea beach & sand dune vegetation found no scope to develop. Algal formations are found on the boulders between Teknaf and Shilkhali (MoEF, 2001a).

Floral species of the sites: NCSIP-1 Survey of Flora (MoEF, 2001a) covered, among others, the tropical and mangrove a forest area from Cox’s Bazar to Teknaf and the sand dunes of Shahparir Dip, Teknaf. While no tropical forest occurs within the ECA boundary, angiosperms, bryophytes and pteriophytes, including medicinal plants, are found scattered throughout the site by road sides and in homestead forests. These, and the mangrove and sand dunes species that occur at the site are described here. .

Nishorgo Support Program: This Protected Areas Support Program funded

by USAID and other international development partners aims to establish a co-management model for the major stakeholders of the Forest Department with maximum participation of the local people. It eventually envisages formulating a sustainable management system for the protected areas of Bangladesh and is currently operating in, inter alia, the Teknaf Game Reserve, which is an important buffer zone adjacent to the ECA. The main objectives of Nishorgo include: Threats Sources 1. Degradation of Grazing of cattle Sand dune habitat

Strategies to protection Awareness & education for cattle owner.

Land use planning; Land Zoning; specific zone for cattle grazing Planning and implementation of fodder production Expansion human ECA rules application.

Settlement in the sand dune habitat Strengthening of birth control activities.

Control of human settlement specially Rohinga migration by the concern Authority of GOB. Degradation due to Awareness & education for cattle fuel wood collection. owner.

Alternate fuel wood source (screw pine/local species plantation) through social forestry.

Threats Sources Strategies to protection Excessive plantation of locally grown medicinal plants Traditional tourism.

2.

Land degradation and Beach Erosion

3. Decreasing of homesteads plant biodiversity.

Awareness & education for to the community & tourist.

Development of ecotourism.

Zonation for the tourist & non-tourist area Un regulated beach No beach drives at all. drive Restricted tourism in the beach area.

Tidal surges Soil conservation program for the high risk area of beach.

Protection planning for the risk area Destruction of Strengthening of birth control homesteads plant activities. biodiversity for new Developing model to vertical room construction. expansion of rooms and restriction for horizontal expansion Restrict cutting of undergrowth and bushes.

Cutting of old trees Awareness & education to the without planting new community about the importance plants tree plantation & plant biodiversity.

Make seedlings available to the community.

MonoAwareness & plantation of education to the quick community to plant growing local improved alien species. plant species instead of alien species.

Motivate the community to plant seedlings of multipurpose tree.

Making available seedling of local improved plant species nearby of the community.

4. Degradation Cultivation of Awareness & education to due to modern exotic species the community. cultivation. & hybrid varieties.

Sources Strategies to protection Emphasized on cultivation of local species & OP varieties.

Use of chemical fertilizer

Awareness & education to the community.

Practice of Organic Agriculture.

Use of chemical pesticide Awareness & education to the community.

IPM Practice 5. Degradation of Conversion of Mangrove Enforcement of existing Mangrove habitat forest to shrimp farm law.

ECA rules application.

Mangrove friendly shrimp culture.

Awareness & Education for local people.

Alternative livelihood for the community.

Conversion of Mangrove Enforcement of existing forest to Salt pans law.

ECA rules application.

Mangrove friendly shrimp culture.

Awareness & Education for

local people.

Buffalo grazing in the Awareness & Education for Mangrove habitat buffalo owner.

Zoning for in-situ conservation/ Non grazing zone.

Excessive cutting of Awareness & education for Mangrove habitat for Local people fuel wood Alternate fuel wood source (screw pine) for the community.

Enforcement of existing Law. Government leasing No more leasing in Sonadia system of Land ECA. ECA rules application.

SAINT MARTIN ISLAND St. Martin’s Island is a small offshore island in the Bay of Bengal some 50 km to the south of Teknaf peninsula. The island is roughly dumbel shaped, approximately 7 km long and 500 m wide at its broadest point. Narikcl Jinjira. Also known as the St. Martin's Island, is a small island in the north easier!! Part of the Bay of Bengal, about 9 km south of Cox's Bazar-Teknaf peninsula tip. It forms the southern-most tip of Bangladesh. It is about 8 km west of the northwest coast of Myanmar and lies exactly on the mouth of the River Naaf. The island is situated roughly between 20°34'N - 20°38.3'N and 92°18. 2"E - 92C20.8”E. There has been a confusion regarding the origin of the island. In some recent literature, the island has been classified as a 'Coral Island' of biogenic nature.

The assumption based on the presence of coral communities on the island. The presence of a submerged reef on the south and so St. Martin's Island thought it to be the western extension of one of the Malayan sea coast. Presence of shell and coralline limestone deposits as well as coral clust existence of coral reefs.

The term 'Coral Island' was probably adopted by the general public and base rock of Narikel Jinjira is sedimentary in origin and consists of sandstone mixed with shell deposits. Some unweathered subtidal area clearly show the

signs of cracks, caused probably due to uplifting. Some spherical boulders with dead coral colonies, are probably formed through an accretion procedure.

Topography and relief: The Island is very young and no topographic irregularity was observed. The central part is little elevated [10-20ft] than the surrounding area. The St. Martin Island was investigated with a major objective to understand about the beach morphology and coastal geology.

Different types of drainage patterns of very small scale were studied including braided and dendritic pattern. Development of fan and delta were also studied. Inter ideal flat random orientation of large boulders and presence of coral reef were the interesting features of the island [Plate-8].

Geology:

Coquina

bed,

intra-formational

conglomerate

bed

and

undifferentiated clay stone were the major litho facies of the area. The undifferentiated clay stone was very much similar to the shale formation near the beach of the Dakhin Nhila. It was affected by different mollusks.

The presence of coquina suggested very Recent sea level regression.

The beach of the island offered some interesting sedimentary structures including ripples, winds ripples, ripple train, dune, rill marks, bioterbation, lamination etc.

Formations of the St. Martin island: The St. Martin Island is very recently developed structure. The Formations of the Island is not well exposed. The major formations of the island are: Undifferentiated Claystone; The very hard and compacted clay stone is very much similar to the boulders of the sea beach of the Dakhin Nhila. It is highly fossiliferous and gives Effervescence with HCl. It is the most occurring Formation.

Formation-StB; St. Martin Limestone: The youngest Formation of the Island is the Coquina Limestone. It is identified by the presence of broken shell fragment [90%] and very small amount of sand particles STRATIGRAPHY OF THE ST. MARTIN ISLAND: St. Martin is very recently developed structure which raised it’s head from the sea about 5500 BP [Monsur, 1995]. So, stratigraphic sequences are not well exposed in this Island, though two major Formations were detected; which are – # Coquina or St. Martin Limestone Unit – Formation SB; # Undifferentiated Claystone [or, shale] Unit – Formation SA. Between these two, St. Martin Limestone is the younger and it is probably unconformable on Undifferentiated Claystone. The relative thickness of the Coquina bed was measured but it was not possible to detect the thickness of other unit.

RESOURCES OF SAINT MARTIN: Plant Diversity: The island is a good example of co-occurrence of corals, sea grases and mangroves. Sandy beaches also support sand dune vegetation.

A recent survey under NCSIP-1recorded a total of 151 species of benthic and drifted algae, 18 species of bryophytes and 157 species of angiosperms.

The mangrove formation here is quite different from any other mangroves in the country in that it is a pure Lumnitzera racemosa formation. Associated species are Acanthus ilicifolius,Aegialitis rotundifolia, Hibiscus tiliceous, Excoecaria agalocha and Clerodendrum inerme. Pandanus odoratissimus and Ipomea pescaprae, in association with grasses Panicum repens,Paspalum vaginatum and sedges Cyperus spp. and Fimbristylis spp., constitute the vegetation of the sand dunes. Streblus asper and Vitex trifoliataare also

found among the crevices formed by the rocks. Common algal plants include Hypnea Ceramium, Acanthophora, Polysiphonia among Rhodophyceae; Sargasum spp. Dictyota spp.Sphacelaria spp.among Phaeophyceae; Enteromorpha, Chaetomorpha Cladophora, Caulerpa, Helimeda ,Ulva, which belong to Chlorophyceaea; Oscilatoria spp. and Nostoc are members of Cyanophyceae.

Faunal Diversity: The rocky sub tidal habitat from the seaward margin to about 1000 m offshore support a diverse coral community which can be classified as a veneering coral community. A total of 61 species of mollusks have been recorded from the island. Of these, 44 species are Gastropods and the rest are bivalves. Some important gastropods, like Conus striatus, C.textile, C.geogrphes are abundant. Two economically important gastropod, Trochus niloticus and Turbo marmoratus are present at the island.

These two species are heavily depleted worldwide.

The coral community also supports associated fish and invertebrate fauna. A total of 240 species of Fish have been identified, 86 of which are coralassociated fish species. A total of seven species of crabs have been identified from the island. The island is particularly important as a wintering area for a wide variety of migratory shorebirds, Gulls and terns, and as a nesting area for marine turtles. A total of 120 species of birds has been recorded from the island, of which 67 species are resident and 53 are migratory. A total of 18 species Of mammals have been recorded from the island. Al five species of marine turtle known to occur in Bangladesh have been reported in the area, namely Chelonia mydas, Careta careta, Lepidochelys olivacea, Eretmochelys imbricata and Dermochelys coriacea. A conservation estimate shows that at least 80-120 turtles breed in the area during the nesting season. Other reptiles include Varanus salvatorand the sea-snakesLaticauda laticauda, L. colubrina and Enhydrina schistosa. Altogether, the island Supports a total of 27 reptile species and four amphibians.

ST. MARTIN’S & TURTLE NESTING BEACH Only island in Bangladesh, which has coral colonies of reef building species in the shallows. Large areas of sand dune and scattered mangroves are the basic characteristic of the land. Island climate is governed by the subtropical monsoon. During May-August the southeast monsoon climate prevails over the island, which is characteristically warm, humid, with up to 1000 mm of rainfall in a single month. According to old islander abundant tropical evergreen vegetations previously covered the land. Martin is dumbbellshaped, sedimentary and continental in origin. Its 3 small islands, at the south, locally known as Cheradia.The intertidal and sub tidal zone is fringed with boulders. Beach length of St. Martin’s is 14 kms, of which a small stretch of about 2 km is suitable for nesting. Rocks and seawalls frequently interrupt nesting process and females often require several attempts before laying eggs. This curved sandy beach on the western coast named Shil Banya (2023.6’N; 92019.5’E) is the main Turtle nesting beach, where 70% nests recorded during the last records .

Facts of Marine Turtle They are reptilian, ancient and a distinctive part of the marine biodiversity evolved more than 100 million years before, Long-lived animal that mature in late life, They are highly migratory and travel great distances during lifetime from ocean to ocean, around the globe,Excelent navigator; can recognize their own nesting beach, They transport massive nutrient and increase productivity of coastal habitat, They must have to breath in air & lay eggs on sandy beach for reproduction, Feed on jelyfish, crab, shels, squids, sponge, sea grass etc.Some are carnivores and others herbivore,Sea Turtle return in maturity to the same beach where they hatched long time before.Female marine turtle lay eggs on the sandy beaches in 50 -1 00 cm depth those hatch by sand heat provided by sunshine after 45-70 days.

Mother has no duty regarding hatching after laying and the babies find their own ways in the open ocean. The sexes of the hatchlings are determined by the incubation temperature.

Marine Turtle and Marine Ecosystem • They play significant role in maintaining marine ecosystem especially the food chain: • Jellyfish is one of the major food items of marine turtle, which is a dominant predator of fish fry, turtle helps to keep jelly fish population balanced,

• Marine turtle introduce marine vegetation from one coast to other coast of far distance, • The attract ecotourism tremendously and thousands of foreign tourists visit our country to watch marine turtle.

Summary of Differential Data on Nesting Females Chelonia mydas Curved carapace Length (CCL) cm 92 - 111 cm Clutch Size 95 - 163 nos Egg Weight/gm 42.1 - 44.5 gm Egg Diameter/mm 42.1 - 43.9 mm Lepidochelys olivacea Curved Carapace Length (CCL) cm 66 - 93 cm Body weight/Kg 36 - 54 kg Clutch Size 36 - 182 nos Egg Weight/gm 25.5 - 33.5 gm Egg Diameter/mm 36.86 - 39.47 mm

Fish A total of 234 species of fish in 85 familes of 14 orders and 2 classes have been identified, of which only 16 are freshwater species.

Rhinocodon typus (timi mach), Rhizoprionodon acutus, Narcine brunea (brown electric fish), Ilisha elongata ( Big eye ilisha), Coilia ramcarati (korati), Clarias batrachus (Magur mach), Harpadon nehereus ( Loitta mach), Hippocampus kuda (ghora mach), Pama pama ( poa)Lepturacanthus savala (churi mach) Reptiles A total of 29 reptilian species are found such as Varaus salvator ( gui shap), Calotes versicolor (kaklash), Caretta caretta (sagor kachim), Naja kaouthia (Padma gokhra), Naja naja knouthia ( khaya gokhra) etc.

Birds A total of 120 spcies of birds are found, of them 77 species are resident and 43 are migratory such as Nettapus coromandelianus ( Bali hash), Coracias benghalensis (Nilkantho), Halcyon pileata ( Machranga), Eudynamis scolopacea (kokil), Amaurornis phoenicurus (Dahuk) etc.

Mammals A total of 19 species of mammals belonging to 7 families are found such as Pteropus giganteus (Badur), Balaenopterus musculus (nil timi), Delphinus delphis ( Shishu), Rattus norvegicus (Idur) etc.

Echinoderms A total of nine species belonging to eight genera in four classes of phylum Echinodermata are found such as Cenometra bella ( Attached to soft corals ), Tropiometra afra (Abundant, attached to soft corals and rocks).

Global biodiversity significance: Global biodiversity significance of St. Martin’s Island stems from a number of considerations i.e., biogeographic importance, ecological importance, socioeconomic Importance, scientific importance, international and national significance. While there have been considerable changes on land, the marine environment remains relatively intact along much of the coastline, especially along the southern part of the island. The sub-tidal habitat that supports coral resources is in a relatively undisturbed state throughout a significant part of the sub-tidal area. Extensive algal and sea grass beds in the coastal waters may be important as spawning and/or nursery grounds for

a number of economically important fish and shellfish species. The island supports a variety of habitats and a number of rare moluscs (e.g. Cone Shells). Two marine mammals from the areas surrounding the island IndoPacific Humpback Dolphin Sousa chinensis, And Black Finless tortoise Neomeris phocaenoides. These are listed as globally threatened in the IUCN Red Data Book. The island is also an important nesting ground for two marine turtle species considered as globally endangered by IUCN, i.e., Lepidochelys olivacea and Chelonia mydas. It is the only continental island in Bangladesh with coral communities and associated flora and fauna, which are found on True coral reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific. There are only a few examples worldwide where coral communities dominate rock reefs; St. Martin’s Island provides a unique set of environmental conditions (biotic and abiotic) not found anywhere else in Bangladesh and perhaps not in the world.

Finally, St. Martin’s Island contains unique geological features. The current controversy over the geology and the origin of unique geomorphologic features on the island clearly demonstrates the high scientific value of St. Martin’s Island. Co-occurrence of corals, seagrases and mangroves in the island represents little known succession sequence of corals in the tropical areas and is of considerable scientific interest. The island also contains some of the most unique, but thus far not studied, benthic communities in Bangladesh, one not found elsewhere in the South Asian Region.

Conservation and Management: St.Martin Island has numerous species of corals, algae, molusks and boulders even with its limited area. Its unique natural beauty attracts researchers and tourists from al over the world. But the island is under threat from biodiversity destruction. So, the project has been taken by the Ministry of Environment and Forest with the following objectives: • Conserve and enhance the moluscan and coral resources around the Island in Bangladesh where this important biological resource is available.

• Conserve the ecologically important moluscan resources and coral bearing Island of the Country-Narikel Jinjira through measure with the local peoples participation.

• Conservation of other flora and fauna of the Island.

• Conservation and Development of Marine Turtle Breeding Ground.

• Develop viable eco-tourism in the Island.

• Designate, develop and manage the Island as a marine park in the subsequent stage.

• Improve the socio-economic status of people of the Island.

• Establish a marine laboratory to facilitate research on moluscs, coral, flora, fauna and marine ecosystem.

• Establish necessary institutional set-up in place.

• Local peoples training on handicraft production like coconut, shel craft & Plaster of Paris.

• Community people has been trained to make models of sea animal with coconut shel/wood/ Plaster of Paris, to encourage people/ tourist to buy model items instead of living coral & shel.

• Construction of motel for eco-tourism.

• Coconut sapling production & distribution to plant in the island.

• Socio-economic survey of the island.

• Training & distribution of energy saving stove for the Island to prevent deforestation.

Recommendations 1. Coral extraction should be prohibited. This may result in increased coral size and coral population, particularly in some vital areas.

Apparently some 15-20 people will be affected. It should not be difficult to generate alternative source of income for them.

2. Fishing within the coral bed area should be prohibited. Fishermen have to be made aware about the harm they do to the corals and the ecosystems which are sustaining the island community.

3. The number of operating fishing boats should be restricted to its present size.

4. The boats should be encouraged to fish further out into the deep sea.

This will reduce pressure on the fish in shallow waters.

5. It should be made obligatory for the fishermen to release the invertebrates’ cought in tana jal into the sea. The mesh size of the tana jal may be increased.

6. Awareness among fishermen has to be created about the benefits of conservation efforts.

7. Erection of embankment should be discouraged and the old ones should be removed (this aspect is discussed detail later).

8. Collection of turtle eggs has to be banned.

9. If banning does not work, 2-3 turtle hatcheries may be established.

10.Breeding biology of the turtles of St. Martin’s Island should be investigated.

11.Large trees on the island should be protected.

12.Fruit bearing trees should be planted.

13.The forested area in Dakhinpara and the lagoons should be protected.

14.Protected areas are established for corals and coral associated fishes.

15.Marine Park is set up.

16.Ecotourism be developed.

17.Sea turtle breeding centre be established.

COX’S BAZAR Location: Cox’s bazar district is in Chittagong division. With an area of 2491.86 sq. km. is bounded by Chittagong district on the north. Bay of bangle is on the south; Bandarban district, Myanmar and the Naf River on the east and the bay of bangle on the west.

Climate: Annual average temperature is maximum 32.5oc and minimum 14.8oc.

Annual rainfall is 3378 mm. The district having been a coastal region often fall victim to sea storm tidal bore hurricane and cyclone.

Physiographic feature: Cox’s bazaar is a nice district of Bangladesh land formed with both hillock and plain land. The combined feature of hillock and plain land look very nice.

Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazilla:

Cox’s Bazar sadar Upazila with on area of 228.23 sq. km. is bounded by chakaria upazila on the north, Bay of Bengal and Ramu upazila on the south, Ramu upazila on the east, Moheshkhali upazila, Moheshkhali channel and bay of Bengal on the west Main River Bak khali.

Cox’s Bazar (town): Cox’s bazaar Municipality constituted in 1869 and it was turn into town committee in 1959. The town committee was again replaced by municipality in 1972 and it was cleaned to B grade in 1989. The municipality cover an area of 6.85 sq. km. with 19 mahallas, 1 mouza , 3 wards, population 46887, male 59.11% female 40.89% the density of population is 6845 per sq. km.

Page No-27 The literacy among the town people is 52.2%. Cox’s Bazar having been a great tourist resort various establishments have developed in the town including 6 big hotels, 30 medium hotels, 50 semi medium hotels. Jhinuk market for the tourists and the barmise market dealing in luxury goods from Burma, Thailand and China.

MAP (Cox’s bazaar district) Administration: Cox’s Bazar thana was established in 1854 and it was turned into on upazila in 1983. It consists of 10 union parisads, 1 municipality, 37 mouzas and 140 villages.

MAP: Cox’x Bazar Town Population: Total population is 253788; male 54% and female 46% Muslim 89.56%, Hindu 8.31% , Buddish 2%, Christian 0.01%, others 0.12%; ethnic nationals: Magh and Rhkhins 5325.

Percentage

Main Religion 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

89.56

Main Religion 8.31

Muslim

Hindu

2

0.01

0.12

Buddish Christian Others Religion

Fig: population versus religion Literacy: Average literacy rate is 27.06%; male 35.03% and female 19.09%.

Main occupation:

Agriculture 15.86%, agricultural laborer 13.1%, wage laborer 7.86%, commerce 19.34%, service 7.93%, transport 2.79%, fishing 6.55%, industries 1.32%, constructions 1.42%, others 23.83%.

Main Occupation 30

Percentage

25

Main Occupation

20 15 10 5 0

Ag

ul ric

re tu

u ric Ag

ra lt u

ur bo a ll

e ag W

la

u bo

r m m Co

ce er

e ic rv e S

rt po s an Tr

O

s er th

Occupation

Fig: Occupational percentage of population Land use: Cultivable land 8881.02 hectares, land for salt production 101174 hectares, land for shrimp cultivation 1214.08 hectares, forest area 7703.36 hectares, fallow land 270.74 hectares, single crop 32.63 %, double crop 65.6%, triple crop 1.77. Rubber dam has been installed on the Bokkhali and Idgah rivers for irrigation purposes.

Land control: Among the peasants, 20% are landless, 40% small peasant, 25% intermediate and 15% rich peasant. Average distribution of cultivable land per head is 0.03 hectares.

Main crop: Main crops are paddy, potato, betel leaf, brinjal, betel nut etc.

COSTAL LANDFORM (Cox.s Bazar) Coast: The wide bank of an ocean is called coast. It is spread 200 km. towards ocean from land. Land and shallow ocean area is called coastal, where situated 70% ocean area and 30% land area. Perhaps the coastal area is populated because of mild climatic condition, health resort and economic activities are well.

To observe coastal landform we reached Cox’s Bazar sea Coast on 20 April 2005 at 6.05 am. Then our honorable course teacher Dr. Subash Chandra Das gave a valuable lecture on coastal landform.

He described about the following topics – Classification of coast: • Share line • Marine force of coastal area • Erosional features of land form • Depositional features of land form • Bio diversity.

1.Classification of coast: There are 3 types of coast and these are – A) Back shore B) Fore shore C) Off shore Cliff Back shore High tide line -------------------------------------------------------------Fore shore Low tide line ----------------------------------------------Off shore Figure: classification of coast A) Back shore: High tide line of the ocean form cliff this area is known as back share.

B) Fore shore: The distance of high tide line of the ocean from low tide line of the ocean is known as for shore.

C) Off shore: Low tide line of the ocean from the waterfall ocean, this area is known as the off shore.

2. Shore line: In flood tide the last boundary of coast which the water touched is called share line.

3. Marin forces of coastal area: There are 3 main forces which work in coastal area. They are also very important agents to modification of coastal land. These are – A) waves B) Current C) Tides A) waves: Waves form for the causes of oceanic wind, unequal distribution of pressure, angular distance point of the coast etc. Not only that, sometimes earthquake (Tsunami), Stamen, organic forces etc. create the waves.

Types of waves: I) Standing wave II) Progressive wave III) Catastrophic wave.

Elaments of wave: There are some elements of wave. Such as: A) Crest B) Wave length C) Wave height D) Wave velocity E) Wave period F) Wave trough.

B) Current: Current flows in the long shore of the ocean. It is called long shore or lateral current. Current also work in erosion and deposition and transportation of sediment of coastal area.

Lateral Current Figure: Current.

C)Tides: The tide producing forces are caused by the gravitational attraction of the sun and moon on the earth and therefore, closely related to the movement of these bodies. It is very important factor to know about the coastal geomorphology.

Type of tide: A. Flood tide: When the current covered low tide line to high tide line then it called flood tide. It is deposited the sediment in the sea beach.

B. Ebb tide: When the current flows high tide line to low tide line, then it is called ebb tide. In this time eroded some sediment from the sea beach.

Flood Tide H.T.L Ebb Tide L.T.L Figure: Tide. o Agents of modification of coastal land form: o Waves, current and tides. o Nature of rock of the coast (Hard & soft) o Nature of coast. o Human inference or anthropological factor. o Composition of coastal rock. o Stability of rock. o Openers of the coast. o Depth of shore water. o Size and abundance of the eroding tools.

• Erosional feature of costal landform: o Sea cliff o Marine cave o Marine bridge o Stacks o Chimneys o Chasms o Bay o Gully o Coastal beach • Depositional feature: o Bar and spit. o Offshore o Coastal or slot marshes. o Lagoon o Bay head bar o Mid bay bar o Bay mouth bar o Marine dunes.

COASTAL ENVIRONMENT AND COSTAL ZONE: The coastal zone is defined here as a regional ecosystem located at the— interface between land & sea, thus influenced by both terrestrial & marine factors. In respect of energy and matter it is connected with the terrestrial ecosystem through upland runoff siltation & land base pollution & with the ocean by cycling of nutrient, export of organic matter to the ecosystem and other community function. Here land, water (fresh & saline) and air interact in a unique way to produce an environment supporting biological characteristics uncommon in purely in terrestrial or purely ocean ecosystem. In a word we can say that, the coastal zone is the transition zone where the land meets the water. The coastal zone extends offshore to the continental shelf break & onshore to the first major change in topography above the reach of major storm waves. Coastal zone can be divided into following features:

Coastal Zone

Coast

Shore

Backshore or Berm

Beach

Shore face

Continental shelf

Foreshore or Beach face

Geomorphic units in coasts: The principle geomorphic units of coastal zones are deltas, beaches, dunes, strand plains, estuaries, lagoons and tidal flats. Estuaries and lagoons are particularly characteristics of transgress coasts & deltas are features of prograding coasts.

There are mainly three types of coasts: 1. River dominant coast or deltaic coast 2. Wave dominant coast 3. Tide dominant coast The major geomorphic elements of this zone are as follows: • Bar • Swamps • Inter distributary’s bay • Delta shoreline

• Barrier island • Spit • Dune • Strand plain • Tidal creek • Tidal delta • Tidal flat • Tidal inlet • Tidal marsh • Tidal channel Beach range: The entire river contributing to the formation of deltaic flood plain areas forms a network branching in the seaward face & marked by beach ridge.

This is the characteristic feature along the tidal flood plains of Khulna & Patuakhali.  Coastal islands: It is recognized that all most all the islands are deltaic in origin .except Moheskhali and St. Martin's island in the district of Chittagong.

Moheskhali Island is the only one in Bangladesh with hills.

Impact of seasonal variation: Unproductive forest is now being cleared for agriculture particularly for prawn fisheries. The coastal areas of Bangladesh provide us with good sources of fish. The main earning sources of the people o f the coastal area is fishing, people of this region live by the money that they earn form the fish

and dry fish selling. Fisheries resources particularly rich off shore fisheries occur in Cox's bazar in Chittagong district. Dubla & Ranrabali islands of Patuakhali are seasonal center for offshore fisheries. In the coastal region the shrimp culture is found to be held in a great extend; because it provide us a great sources of the foreign exchange.

Resources of coastal zones: We can divide the coastal zone resources into mainly two divisions: 1 Renewable resource 2. Non-renewable resources Renewable resources: The main renewable resources of the coastal zone that have been developed are forestry, agriculture, fisheries and salt.  Forestry: The mangrove forests of the Sundarbans are a well-developed forest r es ou r c e. T he t ot al l an d ar e a o f t he Sun da r b an s f or es t s i s 1,006,060acers, of which 939,820 acres are productive forests: Except for 3,030 acres of immature stands, the total productive acreage is exploited. Another tract of 21,000 acres of compact natural mangrove forest occurs along the delta of Matamuhari River of the Chittagong district Fisheries: A & Hrt 419,835 acres of water area is available for fisheries.

Another tract of 21,000 acres of compact natural mangrove forest occurs along the delta o f Matamuhari River of the Chittagong district. A large part o f this unproductive forest is now being cleared for agriculture particularly for prawn fisheries. n a great extend; because it provide us a great sources of the foreign exchange.  Agriculture:

Agriculture in the deltaic plain is highly developed.The coastal region also Produces coconut, betel nut and much winter vegetable.  Salt production: Salt production is also an important resource in the coastal zone. Cox's bazar along supplies the great part of the total salt required for the country. The salt production of the coastal area provides us with our entire salt requirement.

And it is one of the earning sources of the people of the coastal region. So it can count as a resource of the coastal region.  Transportation:  The coastal region is established with the port, which is one of the greatest means of communication. The port is used by most of the shipping company to transport various goods. It also plays an important role for transporting people  .Tourism: The tourism is proved to be one of the most valuable for our .As because it also helps to earn money.

2. Non-renewable resources: There are some also non-renewable source is found to be present in the coastal region. They are as follows: Mineral resources: The exploitation of minerals and gases is still in first stage in this zone.

Cox's bazar coast is rich in minerals, which are found over an area of 500 square miles of the sandy beach,  Human resources:

Human resources in coastal zone of Bangladesh are found to vary in ethnic groups, depending on the type of occupation they are engaged in. people the region are mainly fisherman & farmers. Now day’s farmers are engaging to salt culture Ashrimp farming.  Water resources: Sweet water is an important limiting resource along the coastal zone of Bangladesh. In the dry season, in certain areas of Chittagong, Barishal, & Patuakhafi, ground water is used for agriculture. The expanse of seawater with in the nation's Exclusive Economic Zone comprises the major fisheries. The water is also a good means of communication, which is transportation of goods INFRASTRUCTURE S OF COASTAL ZONE Bangladesh has a coastal are about 700miles, which provide us with many valuable resources. These resources help us in earning a lot of foreign exchanges. So we much take a special care to develop the infrastructure of these areas.  Buildings: The structure that is the buildings is used in various purposes. Some of them are used as settlement. But as we know tidal action & very ferocious cyclones affect the region, & people have to run away from their home.  Roads Roads are the main mean of communication. So the roars should be develop properly. The roads are not so much good; especially the roads that interlinked the total area with each other’s we went to Chakoria there we

locate roads, which are narrow, are not wefl developed. So people could face accident. So the roads should be properly managed.  Embankment: The embankment area is used for various prepossess. As it help to protect the area which is surrounded by the embankment from the tidal action & seawater intrusion. The embankment is also used as the pathway of the people of the area.

Ports: As the coastal area is the area in the bank of the sea, so the zone is used as the port, where the targe ships stands. As we know Chittagong is the largest port, in the port the various goods are released that transported Major disturbances in coastal area: There are mainly two types of disturbances in coastal area. These are: 1. Natural disturbances: a. Sunami b. Earthquake c. Volcanism d. Glaciation e. Deglaciation f. Storm surge g. Cyclone h. Salinity 2. Anthropogenic disturbances: a. Coastal belt (embankment) development b. Construction of coastal dam c. Oil spillage

d. Explosion of oil tank e. Contamination from ship breaking industries f. Waste dumping g. Pollution from pesticides, heavy metals, radioactive wastes h. Organic matters etc. i. Harvesting naturally occurring living resources j. Extraction of non-living resources k. Cultivation of living resources l. Artificial island construction for sea ports, airports etc.. m. Infill of seas at the coastal zone n. Coastal industrialization and urbanization  Urban encroachment into the coastal zone: Urbanization and its adverse impacts on coastal environment are significant in the coast. Urban encroachment in form of tourism and Recreation development in Cox’s bazaar, Kuakata, St. Martin’s Islands etc is some of the principle causes of many coastal zone management problems.  Pollution of estuaries and coastal zones: Water quality of the coast and adjacent sea is also affected by the discharge of untreated raw sewage, some specific industrial discharges, and oil leakages from the ships and other vesseis. Rapid development of aquaculture in the Sundarbans areas has created a serious concern about the quality of water and converted for fish ponds.  Resources exploitation and its impact:

Over exploitation of traditional fishing grounds has resulted in the virtual elimination of some common fish stocks in the coastal belt. Continuing disappearance of mangrove habitat is a serious problem in the Sundarbans coast. Alteration o various coastal habitats for agriculture, fish farms, settlements and urbanization provide several environmental problems.

Coastal hazards: Failure of protective embankments from sea flooding at the storms, severe coastal erosion and mobility of sand dunes have been identified as major coastal hazards in the present coastal belts. Loss of coastal fringes, fertile agricultural lands, and wet lands are the result of such major coastal hazards.  Increasing number of displaced people or environmental refuges: Today, this is a major issue in the parts of Sundarbans coastal zone.

Settlements are already displaced and going to be displaced from the estuarine islands and shores of the lower area. The displaced people seek shelter elsewhere and want protection from such danger of geomorphological hazards in the coastal zone.  Sea level rises: Thermal expansion of sea water and enormous rate of melting glaciers caused by climate change are major international issues at present. From one estimate of UNESCO it is known that the sea level may rise to 55 cm by 2050 A.D. for the above reasons POTENTIAL FOR ECOTOURISM

Ecotourism is not only widely recognized as a tool for biodiversity conservation and may also be the only long-term sustainable development path open to isolated communities (Denmam, 1992 in Tomascik, 1997), and thus will play an important role in the management of Teknaf peninsula for its biodiversity conservation. The site is already used for tourism, but the form of tourism is both unplanned and unregulated. This traditional current tourism has an adverse impact of on biodiversity features at the site. The tourism should friendly to the existing ecology and its biodiversity. So, tourism should continue, through in a different form what we want to say regulated, biodiversity and environment friendly, i.e. ecotourism. In this system local people will involve in the tourism activities as the guides. It will also act as the alternative source of livelihood.

• There are some important sports for ecotourism. Firstly, darianagar, a very potential attractive closer and well communicated spot. The newly formed nearby VCG is very active and capable to take total responsibility of the ecotourism spot.

• Jeep driving in the beach is harmful for the sand dune ecosystem. There may be a roof way from Inani to Baradail over the reserve forest and the beach which may be an extra subject of interest at the same time tourist will able to see the forest plant species very closely.

• There should be some eco-tourism information centre in the site. One may be in the Cox’s Bazar town, One at Daria nagar and one at Inani point.

• Each Information centre should be equipped with information’s related with ecotourism, importance of ecotourism, negative impact of traditional tourism, Biodiversity information, Threatened species in the country, etc.

• A group of eco-tour guide should be developed through intensive and practical training. After successful completion of the training they will be registered as trained eco-tour guide. They will be given priority later in any related activities.

One cultural stage can be established in the site where local song and Rakhain culture will display by a trained group. The cultural group will be formed by the selected members of the nearby VCG. The songs will carry the massage of ecotourism, biodiversity management etc. The location of the stage may be at the Buddhist Kang in the Cox’s Bazar city.

BEACH SAND AND HEAVY MINERAL SEPARATION CENTRE: BEACH SAND AND HEAVY MINERAL EXPLORATION CENTRE:

Introduction: In Bangladesh, heavy minerals may have a great contribution in our energy resources as well as in economic prospects Beach sand is formed along shore lines by concentrating agency of waves and shore current. The place mineral of beach deposit may consist of limonite, magnetite, nutile, zircon, garnet, quartz, gold, diamond, monazite etc. Heavy mineral accumulation can be seen on present day beaches to have sharp bases and to form discrete luminance.The economical placer deposit of Bangladesh is the heavy minerals accumulation on beaches.

Our beach deposits mainly constitute of ilmenite, magnetite, rutile, zircon, garnet and monazite (heavy minerals). These heavy minerals are shown in the plate. The term heavy mineral is commonly applied to those mineral which sink kin bromoform (density 2.9).

Systematic exploration works have been carried out from 1968 to 1985 and heavy mineral deposits numbering 17 are discovered along the 550 km, along coastal belt of Bangladesh.Beach sand deposits occur at 17 different places in Bangladesh. These are: 1. Badarmokam 2. Sabrang 3. Teknaf 4. Silkhali 5. Inani 6. Cox’s Bazar 7. Kuakata 8. Matarbari Island 9. Nijhum Dwip 10.Kutubdia Island

11.Moheskhali Island i. Foreshore beach ii. Kutubjum iii. Panirchhara iv. Fakiraganz v. Fakirahata vi. Baraghoriapara vii. Hoanak

Shore currents shift materials along the shore, and the lighter materials are moved faster and farther than the heavy, there by concentrating heavy minerals. Pounding waves through up materials on the beach; the back wash and the undertow carry out the lighter and finer materials, and the larger and a heavier materials are concentrated on the exposed beaches.

Placer may be made available for beach concentration bya. Streams that debouch up on the cost. b. Wave erosion up on sea terraces on gravel plains. c. Wave encroachment up on former near shore streams terraces and d. Wave erosion of rock shores.

The relatively narrow portion of the coast is directly affected by the wave action and has formed a beach that usually terminates islands at hill. The location of major beach forms that are significant component of a coast line depend, to large extent, on the availability of sand.

Fig:Extracted heavy minerals from beach sand Principles of separation in quality control room:

At first, heavy minerals are separated the shaking g table which is worked as wave action. Then these heavy minerals are dried in oven. We know that the magnetite and ilmenite shows magnetic properties. So, we can easily separate them from other heavy minerals by using magnetic field. By using high tension roll separator (HTR) we can separate conductive and nonconductive heavies (garnet and rutile). The rest one is the rutile which may nix up with quartz and separated by the clean separator.

Presence of radioactive mineral:

Raw

The most important and hopefulsand news for our country is the presence of

Shaking Tailing table thorium (Th232) bearing radioactive mineral our beach may contain good minerals (reject (Pressure amount of monazite. The presence of radioactive mineral is detected by the Dewater ed) filtered) Heavy GM counter. ed Gas burner Fundamental technique of heavy mineral separation:s (70-100c) High tension separator (22-28kv Conductor Non conductor (magnetite, (zircon, garnet, Induced roll Induced roll ilmenite, rutile) monazite) magnetic magnetic separator separator Non Non Magnetic (0.3amp) Magnetic (5.5amp) magnetic magnetic (magnetite) Induced roll (garnet) (zircon,roll Induced (ilmenite) monazite) magnetic magnetic Magneti Non separator separator Magnetic (8amp) Non c (3amp) magneti (monazite magnetic (ilmenit c ) (zircon) radioactive mineral (probably monazite) Heavy in our beaches. Monazite is the

e)

(rutile)

CONCLUSION

The overall geologic history of the field area where tertiary sediments are well exposed has been discussed in this field report, May be concluded as: Teknaf is the south eastern part of Bangladesh and the southernmost inland area of Bangladesh. It lies within the latitude of 20°50´ N to 21°05´ N and longitudes 92°10´ E to 92°20´ E. Geographically it is bounded by Ukhia Thana in the north, Naf river in the east and Bay of Bengal in the west and south. Dakhin Nhila anticline is about 35 km. long NNW-SSE trending anticline and is only 4-8 km. wide. St. Martin is one of the coral island in Bangladesh which is geologically and ecologically important.

REFERENCES: Evans, A. M., 1997, An introduction to Economic Geology and its Environmental Impact ; Chapman & Hall Ltd., New York, 192-200 p.

Khan,F.H, Geology of Bangladesh Skinner, porter, Dynamic Earth www.google.com