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Management of Fresh Water Wetlands in Bangladesh: Issues and Strategy

Management of Fresh Water Wetlands in Bangladesh: Issues and Strategy. Presented by Ainun Nishat IUCN-Bangladesh ---- Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management at Cox’s Bazaar and Hakaluki Haor- CWBMP Inception Workshop 21 June 2003. Characteristics of the Haors. Piedmont areas

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Management of Fresh Water Wetlands in Bangladesh: Issues and Strategy

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  1. Management of Fresh Water Wetlands in Bangladesh: Issues and Strategy Presented byAinun Nishat IUCN-Bangladesh---- Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management at Cox’s Bazaar and Hakaluki Haor- CWBMP Inception Workshop 21 June 2003

  2. Characteristics of the Haors Piedmont areas Flood plain Deeply flooded area Hydrology Agriculture

  3. Development Activities • Flood Management Strategies: • Partial flood control • full flood control • drainage and irrigation • Impact on agriculture • B. Aman or Aus/Aman • L.Boro • B. Aman ------Aus + T Aman • L.Boro ------ HYV Boro

  4. Value of wetlands FRESH WATER WETLANDS CONTAIN: • a great diversity of flora and fauna including diversity in agricultural crops; • a large number of endangered species of international interest; • provide habitat to a wide variety of resident and migratory waterfowls; • have potentials to support eco-tourism;

  5. Degradation of wetlands (causes) • Increase of population and expansion of human habitats; • expansion of agriculture and conversion of wetlands through drainage of water bodies into rice-fields; • flood control and irrigation projects for enhancement of agricultural productivity; • ill-planned national, local and rural infrastructures like roads, narrow culverts etc.;

  6. DEGRADATION OF WETLANDS ( contd..) • over-felling of wetland trees; • over-fishing and associate disturbances; • siltation due to degradation of the watershed areas which are often transboundary in nature; • indiscriminate regulation of flows of the river systems in the upper riparian areas; and • pollution of water due to industrial, urban, agrochemical and other types of pollutants including pollution from trans-boundary sources.

  7. Impacts of wetland degradation • a serious reduction in fish habitat, fish population and diversity; • many species of flora and fauna are threatened with possibility of extinction; • indigenous varieties of rice are disappearing; • increase in the recurrence of flashfloods;

  8. Impacts Of Wetlands Degradation (contd..) • loss of natural soil nutrients; • loss of natural water reservoirs and of their resultant benefits; and • degeneration of wetland-based ecosystem, • living conditions of local people are deteriorating as livelihoods, socio-economic institutions and cultural values are affected.

  9. NATIONAL WATER POLICYSection 4.9 Water and Fisheries and Wildlife • Fisheries and wildlife to receive due emphasis in water resource planning specially in areas where their social impact is high • Measures to be taken to minimize disruption to the natural aquatic environment in streams and water channels. • Water bodies like baors, haors, beels, roadside borrow pits, etc. to be reserved for fish production and development.

  10. NATIONAL WATER POLICY ( contd…) • Perennial links of these water bodies with the rivers to be properly maintained. • Water development plans not to interrupt fish movement and make adequate provision in control structures for allowing fish migration and breeding.

  11. Present day approaches of Water Management in Bangladesh • The main goal of water management is to support the agriculture towards achieving self sufficiency in food. • Attention is on crop sector only; crop means cereals; focus is on High Yielding Varieties. • Wetland management is not addressed separately in water management activities.

  12. For stopping further degradation of wetlands • significance of wetlands in the national, zonal and local level planning process must be recognized;      • sustainable and comprehensive agricultural practices and land use patterns need to be devised; • functions of selected wetlands be rehabilitated; • introduction of sustainable management practices at all levels; • technical knowledge, planning and management capabilities be enhanced; • Attention given to awareness, education and research aspects.

  13. Towards proper management of wetlands Following steps are necessary : • wetland mapping and landscape planning • Declaration of critical wetlands as protected areas, if considered necessary. • identification of problems through PRA exercise; • conservation and protection measures including eutrophication abatement,

  14. Towards management of wetlands (contd…) • wildlife conservation and fisheries development; • environmental awareness and organizational set-up. • Develop institutional funding arrangements through integrated mechanisms at national, regional and international levels. • Legislation is needed to regulate all activities which impact wetlands.

  15. Summing up • Land and water managers must pay attention to issues related to open water fisheries. • Mechanism for resolving conflicts among fish, land and water management approaches are to be evolved. • Appropriate land-use policy/ strategy need to implemented. • Sanctuaries must be set up urgently. • Awareness on relevant issues at all level (policy level as well as at project level) be created.

  16. Thank You

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