The interactions between livelihood capitals and access of local communities to the forest provisioning services of the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest, Bangladesh

Abstract

This study aims to understand the influence of livelihood capitals on access to provisioning services (PS) of the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest (SMF) including honey, crabs, mixed fish, shrimp, shrimp fry and fuelwood. The interactions among several livelihood capital components played significant roles in shaping the composite effect of respective livelihood capitals on the access to PS. The effect of human capital was significantly positive on people’s access to fuelwood, shrimp fry and crabs consecutively; and negative on the access to honey, shrimp and mixed fish respectively. Physical capital was likely to increase access to shrimp, shrimp fry and crabs; and decrease access to fuelwood and honey. Natural capital (i.e., land area) significantly increased the access to shrimp fry and shrimp; and reduced access to honey. Financial capital played significant positive roles in access to crabs, fuelwood and honey; and negative role in accessing mixed fish respectively. Social capital was likely to enhance access to honey and fuelwood; obstructed access to crabs, shrimp fry and shrimp. Protection of any ecosystem from over exploitation and improved wellbeing of the dependent communities can be achieved by addressing the influence of the livelihood capitals through the integrated development approach.