Born in the Netherlands on the 9 November 1979, Samuel Janse will work with the Brandenburg Technical University in Cottbus, Germany. He will pursue his research on the ground, at the National Park of the Sundarbans (India). He will evaluate the possibility of involving the local populations in the conservation of the National Park of the Sunderbans, a world heritage site located in India's Ganges valley. The mangrove park is the biggest in the world and contains a certain number of rare and wild species on the path to extinction, including the tiger. The aim of S. Janse's research is to evaluate the possibilities of the participation of the local residents of Sunderbans in the conservation and to achieve their cohabitation with the local flora and fauna. A holistic approach will take account of the interests of the different parties concerned. In fact, the strong human pressure on the buffer zone of the site risks to adversely affect the latter to some extent in the long term.

National Park of the Sunderbans site, India

The Sunderbans cover 10,000 km² of land and water (half of which is in India and the rest in Bangladesh) in the Ganges delta. The greatest region of mangrove forests is found there. Several rare or threatened live in the park, including tigers, aquatic mammals, birds and reptiles.

Among these species in addition to tigers, live notably dolphins, sharks, crocodiles, snakes, tortoises, herons, monkeys, wild boar and deer. This park whose name means in Bengali beautiful (sunder) forests (bans) has a rich cultural life, home of Ma Bonobibi (goddess of the forest), Shiber Kumir (the crocodile of Lord Shiva) by Dakshinaroy (ogre, ancestor of all tigers), Kapil Muni (incarnation of Vishnu).


Project Objectives

Research is important in terms of long term conservation perspectives of the National Park of Sunderbans and of the surrounding biosphere reserve. Conservation will only be attained by warning of the present pressure of the local population and by ensuring the participation of the riverbank dwellers themselves. Because actions harmful to the ecosystem are principally due to the fact that the people have no choice, it is important that options can be proposed. The survival of the Sunderbans ecosystem could be ensured by reducing resident's dependence on the reserve and by creating an increased awareness of the site's values. Beyond that, ecotourism could be an appropriate way to generate revenue and additional funds for conservation, but its limits must be studied individually. It is therefore a question of:

• Determining what eco-tourism actions have already been taken and what are their respective successes, their long term viability and the reactions of the parties concerned;
• Determining to what extent site management theory has been put in practice;
• Determining the awareness of world heritage site values among the riverbank dwellers;
• Determining the possibilities for the creation of alternative lifestyles as well as the advantages and the limitations of eco-tourism.