Impacts of shrimp aquaculture on the local communities and conservation of the world's largest protected mangrove forest

Mangrove forests are highly productive, biodiverse, and carbon-dense ecosystems that support the wellbeing of millions of people. Policies that seek to protect mangroves must, therefore, aim to ensure the socio-economic wellbeing of local communities. A clear example of this challenge is found in the Bangladesh Sundarbans-the world's largest protected mangrove. The Sundarbans faces several anthropogenic challenges, including overharvesting of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and expansion of shrimp aquaculture. Several initiatives have aimed to protect the diversity and extent of the Sundarbans, but little is known about the impacts of the shrimp industry on its forest-dependent communities. This study used a mixed-methods research approach to assess the: a) trends in economic, social, and environmental policy and legislative measures in Bangladesh from 1980 to 2020; b) areal expansion of shrimp aquaculture in a case study site, the Village Kalinchi, since 1980; and c) socio-economic profile of local community members. Despite recent governance trends aimed at simultaneously promoting economic, social, and environmental outcomes, approximately 91% of the agricultural lands in Village Kalinchi have been flooded to expand shrimp aquaculture. Income data shows that a small number of shrimp farm owners earn - on average - 22, 14 and 4 times more annual income than that of shrimp farm labourers, agricultural workers, and NTFP collectors, respectively. The combined loss of agricultural land and income disparity has created conditions that promote NTFPs overharvesting from the Sundarbans. Policy and legislative measures must address the shrimp industry's impacts on local communities to reduce resource overharvesting and promote mangrove conservation.