Improving Environmental Governance for Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in Bangladesh

1. Improving Environmental Governance for Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in Bangladesh Lecture by Remeen Firoz, PO IUCN Bangladesh Country Office 04 June, 2011

2. Natural resources and healthy ecosystems are crucial for all, especially rural poor Some 83% of the population depends on natural resources Bangladesh has experienced several Community Based (CB) initiatives by GoB and NGOs over the last two decades Major challenges recorded during experimentations with these CB projects: ensuring sustainability of local institutions/CBOs sorting out ambiguous entitlements and property rights conflict management Institutionalizing more equitable access to resources, productivity and benefit sharing clarifying and coordinating roles and responsibilities of stakeholders Setting the Context…

3. Need to develop a governance regime for sustainable NRM at the local level in Bangladesh CBOs linked up with the local government bodies, to strengthen local institutions and improve capacity to engage in participative and sustainable natural resource management Basic fabric of environmental governance at local (union), regional (upazila) and national levels can be established Opportunities…

4. Community based management under SEMP / CBFM / MACH Strong participation from community Community based management under NRG Stronger participation from community Equal and legitimized participation of local authorities Loose linkage with local authorities Transition from SEMP/CBFM/ MACH to NRG Current state Desired state Desired transition from SEMP / CBFM / MACH to the NRG project Conceptual Framework

5. ‘Improving Natural Resource Governance for Rural Poverty Reduction’ Lead IA: IUCN Environment and Development Group (HQ) 10 components, worldwide Donor: DFID-GTF (Governance and Transparency Fund) Bangladesh Component: Improving Environmental Governance for Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in Bangladesh (NRG Project) Project period: 1 February 2009 – 31 March 2011 Brief Project Profile

6. Goal The goal of the project is: to improve environmental governance for sustainable management of natural resources in Bangladesh. The purpose is to empower local communities by strengthening the connection between the community and local authorities and thereby improve natural resource governance. A special emphasis is also placed on the empowerment of women and their inclusion in the decision making process to promote fair and equitable access to natural resources.

7. Focus on NRG issues built on past experiences of different CB projects (rather than repeating or starting everything afresh) Focus on constituency building (raising communities' voices) as a “demand-side push” and blending this with responsive NRG through sensitizing government structures as a “supply-side pull” Facilitating pro-gender management of NR by including women in local NRG structure (standing committees of local government bodies) Diverse ecological settings: deeply flooded haor (wetland) with swamp freshwater forests; flooded river basins; large river environment; forest ecosystems and their NR-dependent people Multiple and diverse operational avenues: Operations range from union, upazila to national levels. Creating MSP (Multi-stakeholders’ Platform) at sub-district level to allow user communities, CBOs, local and central government representatives including civil society representation Some Innovations in the Project Approach

9. 2 sites being covered by NACOM: Kapasia Site – Gazipur and Arua Site – Shibalaya/Harirampur-Manikgonj 3 sites being covered by CNRS: Haor (Jamalgonj, Sunamgonj) – SEMP sites River-floodplains (Shalikha, Magura) – CBFM and Large river (Chandpur sadar) – Jatka BELA is preparing manuals and establishment of MSP in four different forest areas, namely CHTs, Srimongol, Modhupur and Dinajpur Partners’ Engagements… Project site in Gazipur, Kapasia

10. Natural and biological significance Arua site • situated in the lower reaches and at the confluence of the Jamuna, Padma and Ichhamati rivers • area represents a typical floodplain ecosystem of Bangladesh • characterized by open agricultural fields and village groves • every year, the open land is flooded uppto 4m in the peak season from late August to early October • sometimes, water is drained out for cultivation of Boro rice in winter. Kapasia Site • this is an extensive floodplain area • complete inundation of the floodplain occurs by mid-July due to local rainfall and floodwaters from the Brahmaputra • surrounded by a number of hillocks, on which the homesteads are located

11. Natural and biological significance Jamalgonj site haor based upazila, located at the northeastern part of the country characterized by a vast tectonic depression crisscrossed by numerous rivers and canals depression site is called as Haor, that also contains several low pockets of different sizes during monsoon (May through October), the entire area except the settlements in inundated and remains submerged for 6/7 months located at the foot hills of the Meghalaya, the haor basin receives huge rainwater because of the downstream location and early flashfloods often damage the crops Magura site surrounded by rivers under the tidal influence, connected with the coastal river systems seasonally inundated floodplains areas which provide fish with essential habitats for spawning, nursery, feeding, etc. successful CB projects and NR management norms and systems are in place

12. Natural and biological significance Chandpur site major resources are rivers, canals, agricultural lands fisher community catches fish in the rivers, as they do not have access to canals and barapits local influential have monopoly control over barapits which are leased out to them riverbank erosion is one of the major disasters, that has changed the landscape of and human habitats fish biodiversity, once abundant is now dwindling and some commercially important species such as‘hilsha’ are threatened *** Chittagong Hill Tracts comprised of 3 hill districts and bordered by India and Myanmar ethnic population, with about 15 major communities and unique life and lifestyle culturally dependent on the forest and its resources and nearby streams for livelihoods

13. Cultural importance • Jamalgonj is ‘haor’ area, remote and economically deprived. There is one crop/year and natural calamities hit regularly. Almost every year there are floods and the ‘single’ crop is damaged. It is geographically remote and very conservative as a society • Chittagong Hill Tracts is culturally diverse with ethnic population and hilly settings. This area is also disjointed from the rest of the country and characterized by political unrest, land and landuse issues, conflicts between locals and settlers. Although it is a biodiversity hotspot (ecologically significant because of its location in the HKH region), socio-economic status of indigenous people is largely threatened • Other sites are similar in nature, with floodplains and rivers as the major natural resource in the flat lands. Social exploitation, natural disasters, limited access to resources are the main issues. Majority of the population are illiterate and institutions and service providers are not easily accessible

14. Output 1: Capacity Building of Community and LG Baseline on current NRM practices Capacity and need assessment Local NRG regime (issue based) Capacity building (training, exposure-visits) CBOs strengthening UP/UZP strengthening (Env. Standing committee) Field demonstrations Major Activities and Outputs Earthenware made by the ‘samiti’

15. Output 2: MSP for NRG Local level (union/upazila) MSP formation Social audit Post-training impact assessment; Reflexive learning National level MSP formation/functioning Major Activities and Outputs Output 3: Lessons dissemination Case studies: Influence ministries on NRG Communications materials on NRG Evaluation of communication/advocacy Policy briefs

16. Key livelihoods issues, rights and governance • Natural calamities and disasters affect livelihoods of the people, such as flash floods • Resources are occupied by the affluent/influential and there is social exclusion • Access to natural resources in constrained and there is general lack of awareness regarding the sustainable use of natural resources • Local government institutions are not properly functional • Women’s rights are not usually taken into purview and there is limited scope of education and health services for them • Seasonality of occupations (such as cropping times/fishing) and lack of employment opportunities • Government initiatives for providing alternative opportunities to the people are not adequate • Lack of infrastructural facilities such as bridges, roads, embankments, culverts and transportation facilities in remote areas such as hills or haors • Illegal trade and over-extraction and catching of scarce resources such as forest products and brood fish

17. Nature Conservation Management (NACOM) CBOs have been activated mobilized and capable of managing their organizations Standing Committees (ENV) are being reactivated Regular meetings are being held with CBOs and dialogues have been initiated Fisheries Management Plan is being drafted for government agencies Creation of fish sanctuary has been initiated Influencing the local leasing systems towards a ‘pro-people’ approach Partner’s Achievements at a Glance Fish sanctuary in Magura

19. Upazila parishad, UP and Upazila Fisheries Officers are actively involved with the implementation process.

20. Leasing of some water bodies to non-fishers has been stopped and participatory fisheries management action plans have been developed

21. Bangladesh Environmental Lawyer’s Association (BELA) Preparation of training manual on legislations/rights and training for NRG partners Establishment of MSPs in 4 sites Preparation of policy briefs Community workshops for indigenous/NR dependent communities Linking with BELA’s other works for ensuring sustainability Partner’s Achievements at a Glance Consultation with CBO members

22. LESSONS LEARNT • Relevant stakeholders have been benefited through training and are now more encouraged to practice this kind of activities in their locality • BELA has linked its NRG work with other projects for ensuring sustainability • Training manual prepared by BELA explains in detail the needs and benefits of creating sanctuaries. This manual was shared between all partners, including government officials, community members and other relevant stakeholders. This manual is being widely used by others, since it is written in simple, easy to understand language

23. Centre for natural Resource Studies (CNRS) Identified ISSUES and ACTIONS for all 3 sites Conducted baselines for identifying the capacity needs Looking into river/wetland governance issues as well as urban governance (e.g. Chandpur Sewerage System) FGDs have been conducted with various stakeholders and MSPs formed Working with existing CBOs formed by SEMP, CBFM, MACH (former successful projects) etc. Partner’s Achievements at a Glance Meeting of the women’s ‘samiti’

24. 43 CBOS/Groups formed by poor community people have been institutionally organized and capacitated for addressing NRM issues, resolution and action Members of the service providers (UP & UZ) are now better responsive to the issues of the poor community Impacts:

25. Paper Cuttings and Billboards…

26. 41 CBO members are endorsed in the Standing Committee (SC) and creation of 3 MSPs in 03 sites has created dynamism and new dimension of action Organizing Governance Regime and its capacitating has forged better integration and coordination between CBOs/MSP and other stakeholders Impacts continued:

27. CBOs have established their access to different service providers and ensured in obtaining their support/services: Obtained capitation of sanctuary reformation and infrastructure development of fishers’ community center Drawn fund from Annual Development Fund of respective Union Parishad (UP) Impacts continued:

28. Develop the advocacy skill/capacity with the appropriate tools and methodology of the CBO/MSP members Women empowerment has increased their participation in CBO/group, SC meetings/forums and negotiation Impacts continued:

29. Awareness campaign against catching of pangas during the ban period has been successful. Fish Act (Amendment 1985) maintains the same ban period (March-April) for Hilsha and Pangas appears as contradictory as the breeding time of Pangas extends up to August. Fishers/Fishers association, Local journalist and other elites, local administration/ Fishery department support proper execution of the ban and reformation of Fisn Act and forwarded memo to the Foreign Minister for further process in the Parliament Impacts continued:

30. Political attention and support… Foreign Minister Dipu Moni visits NRG site

31. Billboard – awareness material

32. Challenges • Lack of awareness and reluctance of local level committees (such as of Standing Committee on Environment) to initiate activities • The duration of project interventions is not enough to ensure long-term sustainability of the initiatives • Continuation and M&E of the project is absolutely necessary for proper impact assessment of the project • Poverty, illiteracy and access to justice poses as a major threat • Coordination and gaining the trust of local politicians/vested interest groups • Natural disasters often offset the development initiatives • Lack of support from the local government service providers

33. Highlights of some achievements at the field level… • CBOs have been rejuvenated in all sites • Training and capacity building of the community, local government and service providers • Access and rights of local people have increased • Institutional endorsement of the MSPs • Governance regime well accepted in all quarters • Women’s representation in all the committees and activities • Social auditing and participatory approaches used • Political support and attention received • NRG beneficiaries as well as neighboring communities are well aware of their rights and responsibiliteis

34. KEY IMPACTS • Two policy briefs have been developed by BELA on swamp forest and community based forest management • Several ToT sessions and consultation meeting with ethnic communities have been held • A training manual on NRM related laws and rules has been prepared in consultation with the community • Awareness of the community and other stakeholders has enhanced • Establishment of MSP in four different forest areas, namely CHTs, Srimongol, Modhupur and Dinajpur (ethnic communities)

35. SUCCESS STORY The Fisheries Law did not have provision for creation of ‘sanctuaries’. Strong solidarity was created amongst the fisher community for creating sanctuaries in their locality (through MSP) – this is an outcome of BELA’s training and mobilization by the other partners! 

36. Next steps… • Sharing the success stories of natural resource management with local level committees, politicians, government service providers, other professional groups, national policymakers, etc. • M&E of the project activities, to measure and assess the impact of interventions • Publication and widespread dissemination of the concepts and practices on good natural resource governance through books, billboards, posters/stickers etc. • Replication and scaling up of activities to other areas of the country • Creation of a network of MSPs established in different sites for knowledge sharing

37. THANK YOU 