Ecologically Critical Areas
Strict guidelines can help conservation
L-R: Sundarbans.Photo: Star St Martin's Island. Photo: Anisur Rahman
Since the inception of civilization mankind has been living within predatory relationship with the nature. The tendency to exert uncongenial influence on ecosystem has resulted in deforestation, loss of biodiversity, land degradation, coastal erosion, environmental pollution and rapid increase of GHGs. The notion, however, has recently been changed with the introduction of new concept -- Sustainable Development, which has now become a central concern all over the world. By the end of the past century a series of international conferences issued urgent calls for global concern to address the matter. The United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) established the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change. In June 1992, “The Earth Summit” was held in Rio-de-Janeiro in Brazil. Bangladesh also adapted an action plan namely, National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP). Following this action plan some areas have been declared as Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs). ECA is an environmental protection zone, defined by the government of Bangladesh under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act (BECA), 1995, where ecosystem is considered to be threatened to reach a critical state. 12 sites are currently classified as ECAs to control further damage to these areas including Hakaluki haor, Sonadia Island, St. Martin's Island, Teknaf Peninsula (including the Cox's Bazar Sea Beach), Tanguar haor, Marjat baor and outside of Sundarbans Reserved Forest to an extent of 10 km and counting. Current situation of environmental degradation in Bangladesh is alarming. The annual deforestation rate is estimated to be around 3.3 per cent. Along with this, current rate of species extinction as a result of anthropogenic activities has been estimated to be up to thousand times higher than the natural rate. Tidal wetlands constitute about 25 per cent of the land area of the country which are home ground for mangroves, lagoons, sand dunes and beaches and coral habitats. Degradation of wetlands has caused several problems including extinction and reduction of wildlife, extinction of many indigenous rice varieties, loss of soil nutrients and loss of water reservoirs. It, as well, increases in the occurrence of flooding and decline of occupations hence socio-economic development. Cox's Bazar is one of the most catastrophe prone sites which has been declared as Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) since 1999. However, due to absence of proper guidelines, pollution is taking place at an increasing rate. Destroying coastal green, collecting oyster and coral, increased and uncontrolled access of tourists to the areas of rich biodiversity are causing severe jeopardy to natural environment. Adjacent Teknaf peninsula provides breeding area for globally threatened species of marine turtles and serves as a key sanctuary for over 80 migratory species of birds. All forms of diversity are diminishing fast due to the destruction of their habitats. Deforestation is frequent on the peninsula where forest extraction is an important occupation for many of the settlers. St. Martin Island has also reached at a very critical state. Construction of hotels and other facilities often leads to increased sewage pollution. Sewage and wastewater are polluting seas and lagoons thus damaging the flora and fauna of the site. Evidence suggests a variety of impacts resulting from development of shoreline infrastructures, dumping of waste in the water and ship grounding are destroying coral habitats. A majority of people are critically dependent on the country's wetland systems as vital natural resources to sustain, primarily through agriculture and fishing. Tanguar Haor, one of the prime wetlands and ECAs, is responsible for the livelihood of more than 40,000 people. It is a unique wetland supporting 150 varieties of fishes, more than 100 local birds and around 200 species of wetland flora. Due to uncontrolled greed of leaseholders fish population is slowly diminishing and the ecological balance of the haor has been deteriorating. To resist the hazards, proper and strict guidelines are obligatory in such a way that the natural resources are not compromised. Since the characteristics of nature and people's engagement with each site are different, very specific guidelines are needed to manage local demand for resources. For instance, in the area with reserve forest most residents are dependent on wood for fuel that can only be subsided if alternative sources of energy become available. There is need for an Ecotourism Management plan that will create a bioregional ecotourism for all relevant protected zones. The plan would be market-based and prepared through the cooperation of government, the private sector, and local communities. There is also an immediate need to conduct awareness programmes, surveys, and reforestation. Defining special zones for critical habitats is very urgent. Complexities in rules and regulations need to be solved. Interrelation and cooperation among related agencies must be developed and increased. It has been observed that due to absence of a Master Plan and blurred definition of sea area in Cox's Bazar, implementation of ECA guidelines becomes almost impossible. Old-fashioned bottom-up bureaucracy is not yet supportive enough for knowledge-based conservation and management of biodiversity in Bangladesh. Unsustainable agricultural practices and invasion by alien species are also accountable for jeopardizing crop diversity and out-competing our local species of flora of the ECAs. Improving productivity of local variety with genetic modification might be an alternative solution. Government has so far tried to manage a few of the ECAs with appropriate arrangement. The Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management Project (CWBMP) at Cox's Bazar and Hakaluki Haor a UNDP-GEF funded project implemented by the Department of Environment (DoE). The project is responsible for developing an effective management practice of ECAs. The ECA guidelines identify the following activities as prohibited -- felling or extracting -- trees of forest, hunting and poaching of wild animals, collection of snail, coral, turtle and other wild animals, establishment of industries that may pollute soil, water, air and create noise pollution, any activity that is likely to threaten the habitat of flora and fauna, any activity that is likely to destroy or alter the natural characteristics of soil and water, any activity that is likely to cause harm to fish and other aquatic life. IUCN Bangladesh, Hand to Embrace the Less Privileged (HELP), Nature Conservation Management (NACOM), etc are also working with vulnerable communities in Cox's Bazar to increase local resilience to climate change impacts, promote conservation of biodiversity and diversify livelihood options. IUCN has also taken initiative for community based management of Tanguar Haor which can be a role model for ECA management. It would be more practical to employ our traditional knowledge to conserve biodiversity. Community involvement in decision making process is much critical. A very important thing we need is our policy level endeavor to implement effective action plans to conserve biodiversity. Rules-regulations should be formulated and be updated with the core concept of conservation and sustainable use of the components of biodiversity. Complexities within rules and legislations are needed to solve immediately. To implement guidelines effectively Department of Environment (DoE) is needed to be strengthened enough with adequate work force and other facilities. National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAP) 2004 is required to be more comprehensive and focused.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments