Of the 22 existing PAs in Bangladesh, this paper will address the governance status of 3 PAs in the
Sundarban Mangrove Forest. This will also provide an insight of the present situation concerning the
implementation status of Articles 8(j) and 10(c) of the CBD.
The Sundarban, designated as a World Heritage site is composed of three wildlife sanctuaries: Sundarban
East Wildlife Sanctuary, Sundarban South Wildlife Sanctuary and Sundarban West Wildlife Sanctuary.
The total area of the World Heritage Site is 1400 sq. km. out of which 910 sq. km. is land and 490 sq. km.
is water (Banglapedia, 2005). The three sanctuaries are intersected by a complex network of tidal
waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt tolerant mangrove forest. The area has been recognized
globally for its importance as a reservoir of biodiversity. This mangrove supports a unique assemblage of
flora and fauna, including charismatic mega fauna like the Royal Bengal Tiger, Estuarine Crocodile and
the Ganges River Dolphin. The Sundri tree, after which the Sundarban is named, is an endemic species of
this forest