The aim of this study is to assess the spatial and temporal variability of ecosystem services in Sundarbans mangrove of Bangladesh.

Identification and valuation of ecosystem services have created increased attention forĮfficient allocation of resources. Keywords: Economic valuation, ecosystem services, mangrove, climate change, Sundarbans, Bangladesh. The study suggests that further research on total economic value of Sundarbans is needed for providing comprehensive scientific information for policy as well as for decision makers. The attention from national and international communities is needed for sustainable management and conservation of the Sundarbans. Collector's average income from fish is US$ 390 followed by crab (US$ 290). 55% collectors depend on Sundarbans' resources for 76-100% of their total annual income. The study also shows that 72% of the collectors are engaged in fishing followed by fuel wood (52%) and crab (32%) collectors. However, the value of 'Sunduri' stocks will reduce by almost 45% by 2100 whereas the value of 'Gewa' stocks will remain fairly constant. The suitable area of Sunduri (Heritiera fomes) trees is expected to decrease with 14% by 2050 (32 cm Sea Level Rise) and 45% by 2100 (88 cm Sea Level Rise) compared to the base year 2001, whereas the suitable area of Gewa (Excoecaria agallocha) could decrease up to 7% by 2100. Extraction of services and revenue collection fluctuated for the period. It is noticed that there is decreasing tendency of overall revenue collection from the mangrove over the period of 2001-02 to 2009-10. Timber, fuel wood and fish are more economical provisioning services in Sundarbans. The study reveals that major ecosystem services of Sundarbans are timber, fuel wood, fish, ecotourism, cyclone and storm protection, biodiversity, and habitat for flora and fauna.

Climate change impacts on ecosystem services have been analyzed using different studies. Official records of forest resources from the financial year 2001-02 to 2009-10 have been used for economic valuation. Questionnaire surveys, focus group discussions and interviews with key personnel using a semi-structured checklist have been used for information collection. The study also reveals to what extent local communities are dependent on natural resources of Sundarbans. This study provides economic valuation of some of the provisioning services (timber, fuel wood, thatching materials, fish, crab, honey) and assessed the expected impact of future climate change on the value of the two most dominant commercial species Sunduri (Heritiera fomes) and Gewa (Excoecaria agallocha) in Sundarbans.

As a result Sundarbans conservation issue is getting less importance at the national level. The total value of Sundarbans is not recognized and therefore often neglected in development planning. World Heritage Site-Sundarbans mangrove provides a variety of ecosystem services.

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