Climate Change, Global Commons and Corruption in the context of Sundarban Mangrove Forest in Bangladesh

Abstract

"Global commons are the most threatened objects in climate change scenario. The nature of these commons itself is vulnerable in the world of unclear property rights, externalities and different forms of claims. Sunderban, the world’s largest mangrove forest is in peril due to corrupt practice and its consequences are alarming especially in the realm of climate change. The aim of this paper is to pose the concern that Sunderban as a global commons and its deterioration due to malpractice in using resource is a global loss. In exposing the loss the paper aims to highlight the corruption issue and its true loss in terms of total economic values. The importance of Sundarban is immense in terms of carbon sink as well as “bio-shield” against cyclone and high tidal surges. Moreover, destruction of the forest will bring havoc to ecology and unexplored and unutilized marine resources of the surrounding water system. The total valuation shows that the damaged monetized in normal accounting process is much less than the actual damaged enumerated using total valuation approach. Policy conclusion is drawn strengthening the norms of reducing corrupt practices and better management approach."