Government Plans Controlled Tourism to Restore Biodiversity on Saint Martin’s Island

Facing severe environmental pressure from excessive tourism, the government is preparing to introduce regulated tourism on Saint Martin’s Island in an effort to restore its declining biodiversity. A draft conservation master plan proposes limiting tourist movement to a four-kilometre area of the island.

Saint Martin’s Island, Bangladesh’s only coral island, has been struggling to cope with visitor numbers far beyond its ecological capacity. Before limits were introduced by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2025, an average of 7,193 tourists stayed overnight on the island at any given time—nearly double what the ecosystem can sustainably support, according to the master plan.

The excessive human presence has led to increased coral extraction, pollution from boats, and growing volumes of beach waste, putting coral reefs at serious risk.

A 2020 study conducted by researchers from the University of Dhaka revealed a dramatic decline in coral diversity on the island. Between 1980 and 2018, the number of coral species fell from 141 to just 40. Another study published the same year in the International Ocean Science Journal warned that Saint Martin’s could lose all remaining coral by 2045 if current trends continue.

Island Divided into Four Conservation Zones

As part of the proposed conservation strategy, the eight-square-kilometre island would be divided into four distinct zones.

Zone 1, designated as the “General Use Area,” would host all hotels, resorts, and tourist accommodations. Existing establishments in other parts of the island would be relocated here. Overnight stays would be allowed only in this zone, with a daily visitor cap of 900 to maintain ecological balance. The zone would include seven residential neighbourhoods and remain open to tourism and economic activity, though activities such as driving vehicles on the beach, nighttime lighting, coral collection, and pollution would be prohibited.

Zone 2 would serve as a controlled resource area, functioning as a buffer to protect the island’s environmentally sensitive southern region and its cultural heritage. Tourism infrastructure development, the use of harmful agricultural chemicals, beach fires, and cooking would be banned in this zone.

Zone 3 would be declared a sustainable management area, where biodiversity conservation would receive the highest priority. Settlement, construction, and any activities harmful to the natural environment would be forbidden. Mangroves, lagoons, and turtle nesting grounds in this zone would receive special protection.

Zone 4 would cover parts of nearby Chhera Dwip. Public access would be restricted, with entry allowed only to authorized individuals. Fishing, pollution, and disturbance of wildlife would be prohibited within one kilometre of this zone. Tourists would be permitted to view the island from a distance of 500 to 1,000 metres but would not be allowed to land there.

Long-Term Plan and Economic Considerations

The master plan spans ten years. Implementation is scheduled for the first five years at an estimated cost of Tk 55 crore, followed by five years of monitoring and management. Tourist numbers may be revised every five years based on environmental conditions.

Senior researcher H.M. Nurul Islam of the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), who contributed to the plan, said zoning is essential for effective management. He noted that all hotels and resorts will be concentrated in Zone 1, and the government may compensate owners affected by relocations.

Tourists will be allowed to visit Zones 2 and 3 during the day but must return to Zone 1 for overnight stays.

Impact on Local Communities

According to the draft plan, Saint Martin’s is home to 1,445 families with a total population of 9,885. Nearly half the residents are aged between 19 and 45. Fishing and tourism are their primary sources of income, accounting for 61 percent and 31 percent respectively. The average monthly income is Tk 6,448, and about 70 percent of residents live below the poverty line.

With tourism and fishing expected to face tighter controls, the plan acknowledges potential income loss for locals. To address this, the government intends to create alternative employment opportunities. Environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said controlled tourism is the only viable way to protect the island and emphasized that future tourism must be community-centered. She added that projects funded by Bangladesh’s Climate Trust Fund are already underway to support alternative livelihoods, with involvement from the fisheries and agriculture ministries.

Changing Land Use Raises Environmental Concerns

The master plan highlights major changes in land use over the past two decades. Increased construction of hotels and resorts has reduced green cover by nearly 24 percent and agricultural land by almost 8 percent. Tourism infrastructure expanded from 45.26 hectares in 2005 to 86.13 hectares by 2023, while mangrove forests shrank by 3 percent.

University of Dhaka research also shows that forested areas on the island declined from 4.5 square kilometres in 1980 to just 3 square kilometres in 2018.

Experts warn that unchecked land conversion poses a serious ecological threat. Rizwana Hasan stressed the need for strict regulation of land transfers to prevent outside investors from dominating the island at the expense of local residents.

Lessons from Global Conservation Efforts

Professor Mohammad Moslem Uddin of Chittagong University’s Department of Oceanography noted that environmentally sensitive regions worldwide are protected under international conventions and UN guidelines. He cited India’s Lakshadweep Islands, where tourism is heavily restricted, as an example of conservation being prioritized over commercial activity.

He emphasized that the success of Saint Martin’s conservation efforts will depend on involving local communities at every stage of planning and implementation.