Nypa fruticans Wurmb leaf collection as a livelihoods strategy: a case study in the Sundarbans Impact Zone of Bangladesh

The Nypa fruticans Wurmb (Nypa), a true mangrove palm, is abundant in the Sundarbans reserved forest of Bangladesh. Leaves are the primary product obtained from the Nypa, which are often used as thatching materials and source of income for the forest-dependent communities in the Sundarbans Impact Zone (SIZ) of Bangladesh. Hence, this study aimed to assess the usefulness of the Nypa leaf collection as a livelihoods strategy in the SIZ of Bangladesh. A total of 90 Nypa leaf collectors from three coastal unions were interviewed by administering a semi-structured interview schedule. Effects of social factors [age, education level and household (HH) members involved in income generation] and economic factors (primary, secondary and tertiary occupation) on the HH total income of the Nypa leaf collectors were analyzed using linear regression and Pearson’s correlation, respectively. Moreover, the effect of physical factors on the HH total income was analyzed by ANOVA and linear regression. Results suggested that income from the Nypa leaf collection, though making only a quarter percent of HH total income, was constrained by underdeveloped infrastructure, inaccessibility to fair market price, limitations of financial capital and frequent attack of Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). The study, therefore, suggests that Nypa leaf collection from the Sundarbans alone could not be a sustainable livelihoods strategy for the forest-dependent communities in the SIZ of Bangladesh. Diversified and advanced husbandry activities, which have the potential to further reduce dependency on forest resources, would strengthen the livelihoods strategy and ultimately conserve the resources of the Sundarbans.