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The
South Asian Seas (SAS) region can be categorized into two distinct
geographical groups. While Maldives and Sri Lanka are island
nations, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan are situated on the Asian
mainland.
The region has some of the largest and biologically rich marine ecosystems, such
as the Gulf of Mannar, Atolls of Maldives and Mangroves of Sundarbans. The presence
of perennial rivers such as the Brahmaputra, Ganges, Godavari, Indus, Kelani,
Magna, etc. have contributed to large networks of backwaters, estuaries, salt
marshes and mangroves.
The SAS also provides habitats for endangered marine turtles, for example the
Green and Olive Ridley turtles. Some of the largest coastal lagoons of the world
such as Chilka Lake in India and Puttalam lagoon in Sri Lanka are located within
the region. It has one of the world's finest coral ecosystems, with atolls constituting
the entire country of Maldives.
The Lakshadweep and Nicobar group of islands of India and a few regions
of Sri Lanka have fringing reefs. But if the marine environment of South Asian
Seas is remarkable, the environmental problem the region faces are all too
mundane: expanding human populations, oil transport across the Arabian Sea,
heavy use of agricultural and industrial chemichals, harmful fishing practices,
and ill-planned land use.
These pressures have destroyed important habitat, driven many wildlife
species near to extinction and altogether compromised the future of the people.
In addition the region faces a particular problem; the risk of losing a member
country, namely, the Maldives due to changing climate and rising seas looms large
on the horizon.
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