Sunderbans the largest contiguous mangrove forest in the world provides livelihood in certain seasons for large numbers of people living in small villages, working variously as wood-cutters, fisherman, honey gatherers, leaves and grass gatherers.
Fishing is the most important means of livelihood and also popular among women and children. Most women in Sunderbans catch crabs and collect tiger prawn seed as livelihood despite tiger, crocodile and shark attacks.
Fisher men often sail into the narrow creeks for weeks and months obtaining a fishing permit.
Wood cutting is permitted in Sunderbans in limited form. Mangrove and other plants are planted in the fringe area to meet the local need of fuel wood for villages and to conserve the buffer area.
For years villagers around Sunderbans have been collecting honey from the mangrove forest during summer. It is one of the most dangerous job in the world. They go from island to island in search of bee hives risking their lives. The major risk other than tigers are venomous snakes and pirates.
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