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Explore the environmental audit and conservation efforts of SAI Bangladesh regarding Sundarban Forest, focusing on harvesting procedures and management issues.
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Country paper onResearch and Audit on Atmospheric Environment SAI Bangladesh
Bangladesh At A Glance • Official Name: The People’s Republic of Bangladesh. • Capital City: Dhaka. • Independence: 26thMarch,1971. • Location : South Asia. • Area : 147,000 sq km • Population : 154 Million (2012 census) • Government : Parliamentary republic • Main seasons : Summer (March-June), Winter (Nov-Feb) Monsoon (July-October)
Brief Introduction to SAI Bangladesh • Established in 1973 as per Article 127 of the Constitution of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. • Mandate: • Constitution of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, Articles 127-132 • Comptroller & Auditor General (Additional Functions) Act,1974 • Comptroller & Auditor General (Additional Functions) Ordinance, 1983 • Appointment: • CAG is appointed by the President for five years from the date of his assuming or until he attains the age of 65, which comes earlier. • CAG’s Authority: • Article 128(1): Authorizes CAG to have access to all documents, records, vouchers, cash, securities, stores or any other government property for audit purpose. • Article 132: The Report of the CAG shall be submitted to the president, who shall cause them to be laid before the Parliament. • Audit Jurisdiction: • All government, semi-government offices, autonomous bodies, public sector corporations, statutory public authorities, public enterprises etc. • Local government bodies.
About Environmental Audit Environmental audit conducted by this SAI: Conservation of Environment and Bio-diversity and Development of tourism in St. Martin Island: Present Condition & Future Actions Harvesting Procedure of Sundarban (Bangladesh).
Sundarban Forest • The largest mangrove forest in the world • The area is known for the habitat of Royal Bengal tigers. Also including many birds, spotted deer, crocodiles and snakes.
Audit Objective To assess the implementation of existing rules and regulations for harvesting operation procedure. To assess the efficiency of Forest Department for controlling the harvesting operations.
Audit Scope focus on the management, supervision, monitoring and reporting activities of office of the Conservator of Forest, Khulna circle examining five Financial Years’ activities spanning from 2006-2007 to 2010-2011. reviewing the harvesting status of Golpata, honey, wax, fisheries resources, wood resources and the poaching of tigers and deer. Assessment of the compliance of harvesting operations with the Forest Act, 1927, Forest Policy, 1994, Integrated Resource Management Plan of the Sundarban Reserve Forest (1998-2010) and various gov. orders
Audit Criteria: The Forest Act, 1927 as a whole and specially Chapter VII of the control of timber and other forest products in transit, section 41-44 where the act empowers to frame the rules. Forest Policy 1994 (Precondition – 1, 5 Objective – 2, 4, 6, 7, Statements – 9, 13, 14, 17, 24, 26, 28, 29). Integrated Resource Management Plan For Sundarban Reserve Forest (1998-2010). Transit rules for Sundarban, 1959. Wildlife Preservation Act, 1974. Fish Act, 1950. Various office orders and notifications issued by Ministry of Environment and Forest, Forest Department, Department of Environment regarding Sundarban Reserve Forest.
Methodology Document review Interview Field Visit
Findings 3 Categories Non-wood harvesting Wood harvesting, and Management issues
Non-Wood Harvesting Non-compliance of FD (Forest Department) guidelines during the harvesting of Golpata. Initiatives were not taken by Forest Division for diversification of Golpata usage. Forest Department did not comply with recommendations of Integrated Resource Management Plan of the Sundarban Reserve Forest (1998-2010).
Cont’d Forest Department failed to determine the appropriate season of harvesting honey. The aquatic resources of Sundarban are harvested using banned fishing gears and poisonous insecticides. Harvesting of fisheries resources without inventory assessment may result in significant loss of biodiversity.
Cont’d No involvement of Fisheries Experts or Fisheries Department in the conservation of fisheries resources. Forest Department could not protect tigers and deer from poachers.
Wood Harvesting FD issued permit for logging despite moratorium on logging imposed by the Ministry. FD could not effectively control illegal logging. Necessary attempt has not been taken by Forest Department for the prevention of Top Dying disease of Sundri trees and Heart Rot (Dhor) disease of Pasur trees
Management Issues Capacity of FD is not sufficient for fulfilling major responsibilities. Absence of Complete Database Insufficient training on harvesting and awareness programmes on environmental sustainability Lack of coordination with other Departments Inadequate Manpower, Logistic Supports and Budget
Recommendations The FD should ensure regular training and awareness of the forest officials as well as Bawalis regarding scientific harvesting of Golpata. Monitoring system of FD should be improved to ensure implementation of FD guidelines. Provisions should be made for taking legal actions against those who violate the rules.
Cont’d Necessary initiatives should be taken for promoting multipurpose usage of Golpata. Awareness programme on multipurpose usage of Golpata should be taken for Bawallis. Research on afforestation of Golpata without hampering the environmental sustainability should be conducted
Cont’d Adequate training and awareness programme for Mawallis should be organized. Modern purification plants for honey need to be established that would ultimately increase revenue by producing better products. Monitoring of honey production and processing system of FD should be improved. FD should provide necessary protection to Mawallis within the forest.
Cont’d FD should follow the recommendations of Management Plan. FD should consider the effects of climate change on harvesting period of honey The legal prosecution process of FD should be strengthened. Monitoring capacity of FD should be improved. Strong liaison is needed with the coast guard, police to prevent illegal practices. Awareness programme on benefits of sustainable fishing should be organized for the fishermen.
Cont’d Immediate steps should be taken to develop guidelines for fish harvesting. Initiatives are needed to prepare inventory of fisheries resources of Sundarban. Awareness programme on environmental sustainability should be organized for the fishermen.
Cont’d • FD needs to take necessary initiatives to finalize the proposed organogram as soon as possible. • Rules and regulations of Forest Department need to be modified to ensure effective co-operation with the Fisheries Department in the Sundarban.
Cont’d FD should increase its capacity to monitor illegal poaching in Sundarban. Legal action against the poachers should be effectively taken. Regular census of tigers and deer should be conducted by FD. Coordination of FD with other law agencies should be strengthened. FD should take initiatives to protect the tigers from people living in Sundarban territory.
Cont’d FD should abide by the moratorium of Ministry of Environment and Forest. FD should strengthen its monitoring in collaboration with other law enforcing agencies. Legal action against the illegal loggers should be improved. Proper management of confiscated wood should be ensured. Operation of coal factories in the vicinity of Sundarban should be restricted.
Cont’d Measures need to be taken to make the workforce more motivated, proactive, and accountable by conducting need assessment to identify areas of weaknesses, improving the working environment and access to resources. FD should update its database regularly. FD should introduce initiatives to change the livelihood of the people who now depend on forest resources by providing them micro credit, modern equipments and training. FD should arrange training and awareness building programmes for scientific harvesting techniques and benefits of environmental sustainability. FD should properly coordinate with related Departments for better management of Sundarban
Impacts Audit observed some positive initiatives taken by FD. There are pre-assessment of golpata harvesting area, post harvesting report, imposing ban on harvesting of fisheries resources at 18 points other than the wildlife sanctuaries. Various projects were also taken for the protection of wild life species like tiger and deer.
Challenges and barriers: The interior of the Sundarban Reserve Forest was not accessible due to lack of communication facilities and limited safety measures. Lack of compiled updated data and inadequate information regarding harvesting of forest resources in Sundarban. To overcome these barriers the Audit Team had to take help from related international best practices and some local expert opinions as well.
Lesson Learnt In many cases, coming out of conventional auditing method is very essential. The report says so. The Environmental Audit on Sundarban found out many things related with environmental issues which could not be revealed by compliance /Financial Audits.
