Current trends in the South Asia
The principal causes of land degradation and desertification in the region are erosion by water followed by wind; and biophysical and chemical degradation. Afghanistan (85 percent), India and Pakistan suffer mostly from desertification problems.
In India, approximately 57 per cent of the land is under some form of degradation, while Bhutan, because of its low population density, has not yet suffered severe land degradation, but deforestation, often the initial cause of degradation, is taking place and 10 per cent of the agricultural land has been affected by soil erosion.
Four countries with humid climatic zones – Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the greater part of India – are severely affected by water erosion on their rainfed lands, by soil fertility decline, and by deforestation. In parts of the hill and mountain areas of Nepal, deforestation and water erosion have reached an extreme degree. Wind erosion is extensive in India and Pakistan, affecting about 25 million ha of land.
The most devastating form of waterborne land degradation in Bangladesh is riverbank erosion, and the active floodplains of the Ganges, the Brahmapurt-Jammua, the Tista and the Meghan rivers are most susceptible to this problem.
Water logging and Stalinization affects between 2 and 3 million ha in Indian and Pakistan respectively. In Pakistan, salt build-up in the soil is known to reduce crop yields by 30 per cent. In Bangladesh, over 30% of the land available for cultivation is situated in the coastal belt, and most of the land is not utilized for crop production due to increased soil salinity.
Chemical soil degradation in the region is mainly caused by agricultural mismanagement.
Water Sanitation and Nutritional Status
Bangladesh
Population with sustainable access to an improved sanitation (%) 1990 23
Population with sustainable access to an improved sanitation (%) 2002 48
Under nourished people ( % of total population) 1990/92 35
Under nourished people (% of total population) 2000/2002 30
Infants with low birth weight (%) 1998/2002 30
Bhutan
Population with sustainable access to an improved sanitation (%) 1990 00
Population with sustainable access to an improved sanitation (%) 2002 70
Under nourished people ( % of total population) 1990/92 00
Under nourished people (% of total population) 2000/2002 00
Infants with low birth weight (%) 1998/2002 15
India
Population with sustainable access to an improved sanitation (%) 1990 12
Population with sustainable access to an improved sanitation (%) 2002 30
Under nourished people ( % of total population) 1990/92 25
Under nourished people (% of total population) 2000/2002 21
Infants with low birth weight (%) 1998/2002 30
Maldives
Population with sustainable access to an improved sanitation (%) 1990 00
Population with sustainable access to an improved sanitation (%) 2002 58
Under nourished people ( % of total population) 1990/92 00
Under nourished people (% of total population) 2000/2002 00
Infants with low birth weight (%) 1998/2002 22
Nepal
Population with sustainable access to an improved sanitation (%) 1990 12
Population with sustainable access to an improved sanitation (%) 2002 27
Under nourished people ( % of total population) 1990/92 20
Under nourished people (% of total population) 2000/2002 17
Infants with low birth weight (%) 1998/2002 21
Pakistan
Population with sustainable access to an improved sanitation (%) 1990 38
Population with sustainable access to an improved sanitation (%) 2002 54
Under nourished people ( % of total population) 1990/92 24
Under nourished people (% of total population) 2000/2002 20
Infants with low birth weight (%) 1998/2002 19
Sri Lanka
Population with sustainable access to an improved sanitation (%) 1990 70
Population with sustainable access to an improved sanitation (%) 2002 91
Under nourished people ( % of total population) 1990/92 28
Under nourished people (% of total population) 2000/2002 22
Infants with low birth weight (%) 1998/2002 22
Fresh Water Depletion & Degradation in South Asia
Maldives is already water scarce with annual internal renewable water resources of <1,000 m 3 per capita while in India and Pakistan the freshwater supplies are between 1400-1900m 3 per capita. The highest supply is recorded from Bhutan, which is around 50,000m 3 per capita/year.
The Indian subcontinent has the highest levels of water withdrawals for agriculture, accounting for 92 per cent of total consumption.
The diversion or alteration of the flow of water in rivers through dams and channels has seriously reduced stream flows in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The Ganges River of India faces a serious pollution problem.
High arsenic concentrations have been recorded from a large number of rural wells in Bangladesh and from some adjacent parts of India
Ground water of several cities in South Asia is affected by the influx of storm water and sewage.
Salt water intrusion is recorded from many parts of Sri Lanka, Maldives, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Degradation of Coastal and Marine Resources in South Asia
The rich marine environment in the region is subjected to great pressure through over- extraction of resources, enhanced pollution and physical alterations in coastal ecosystems.
Oil pollution threatens the coral reefs, where boating activities for tourism and fishing are unregulated.
Most of the shallow water coral reef habitats of Sri Lanka, Maldives and India were severely damaged as result of bleaching
Mangroves have been exploited for timber, fuel wood and other purposes, while large areas have been cleared for agricultural activities and for shrimp farming.
Freshwater interceptions for agricultural schemes have severely affected mangroves and other coastal habitats.
Marine-based tourism also leads to environment degradation through the construction of hotels, beach clubs and marinas involving infilling, dredging and resuspension of contaminated silts.
Sediment loads in the coastal zones of South Asia is high mainly arising from soil erosion due to poor land use practices.
Major industrial cities and towns are situated on or near to the coastline and they discharge large amounts of untreated effluents daily.
Limited institutional capacity and resources continue to be the major impediments to the implementation of coastal environmental management plans.
Underlying causes
Climate change & associated Natural disasters
Increasing population pressures
Pollution due to land based activities
Intensive agriculture development
Coral mining
Increased pressure from tourism
Decked Fishery Vessels, number units (Year 1998)
Bangladesh 80
India 49070
Pakistan 5920
Sri Lanka 2877
Fisheries: Population within 100 km of coast. Units in percentage (Year 2000)
Bangladesh 54.80
India 26.30
Maldives 81.10
Pakistan 09.10
Sri Lanka 100.0
Best 5 fishing islands in Maldives (January 2006)
FA. Nilandhoo 18000
HA. Ihavandhoo 14350
SH. Komandoo 10715
SE. Hithadhoo 10260
GDH. Gadhdhoo 8983
Coastlines in km
Bangladesh 580
India 7000
Maldives 644
Pakistan 1046
Sri Lanka 1340
